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

iPray Fridays: Endurance, Strength to finish the race..

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7

...........Jesus said 'It is finished'........................

John 19:30

endurance: en-door-uhns (noun) the ability or strength to continue or last, esp. despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions; stamina

One of my favourite similes about life is that 'life is like a race, it is a marathon and not a sprint'. You don't need to be an experienced runner to know that there is a difference between a marathon and a sprint, both types of races require different ingredients to achieve success because where a sprint calls for speed...a marathon calls for endurance. A marathon demands that you 'don't give up' in other words 'endure till the end'. I'm not a runner but when I see the look of satisfaction and achievement in the eyes of those who have completed a marathon it makes me want to don my running shoes and get some of that feeling myself.

According to the dictionary, endurance is the strength to continue...the key words being 'in spite of'. I'm learning that the storms of life are inevitable. I say it all the time but when the storm comes I act surprised..lol! As we run this marathon, there will be obstacles in our path, we will get tired, we will want to give up. I am currently writing my dissertation and honestly there was a time I gave up on it and on myself. It was just difficult, I couldn't make sense of anything anymore and it was like the Lord used that to show up an attitude where I am good at starting things but not enduring to the end to finish. Hmm! He said 'The winner of a marathon is not the one who finished first but the one who finished, endure till the end. The Lord is your strength.' Selah. 

So what do you want to give up on today? Not because it's the wrong thing but because you're tired and frustrated, nothing seems to give, others seem to be hitting that finish line and you're wondering what's wrong with you. Let's pray for endurance. In an earlier chapter in 2 Timothy, Paul told Timothy to 'endure hardness like a soldier'...the soldier comes home when the war is over. He endures till the end. The farmer endures till harvest time. Lord, you are our strength and our salvation. Give us the grace to endure till the end. Our Father is the Author, He is also the Finisher we have no choice but to do the same.

Let's pray together, click comments!

Remain blessed and highly favoured.

iWorship Wednesdays; Trouble aint..

Hi people

Sorry for the break in transmission. It's been real busy at my end but I felt very guilty for abandoning the blog. Wow..2010 has been a year but I thank God. This song really got me through some hard times this year. Thanks to Ministers Erica and Tina...I'm sure it will bless you as well.

Trouble aint

Can't promise you no pain no tears

Can't say you'll never be lonely again

My friend

But you see there's a remedy

There's someone who's got

Everything you need

And if you hear what I'm saying

I'm sure you'll agree that?-

Trouble ain't gon' be here everyday

Even though sometimes it seems like it won't go away

After you've done all that you know how

Just to keep from breaking down

Just believe it's gonna get much better

After awhile

Sometimes I sit back and I think about

Where I've been and where I am

Right now

See I wasn't quite sure you could

Hear me calling

But you were there to catch me

When I was falling

So I know

Oh sometimes we may just want to cry

Then you tell me it's gonna be alright

You can't go through life

Living problem free

But you got to keep the faith

And you got to believe

So the next time you're feeling

A little frustration

And you going through

A bad situation

Remind yourself that it won't last for long

'Cause soon it will be over and you'll be moving

Give me the boy.

Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse and finally stopped breathing. She said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?" "Give me your son Elijah replied.".......Then he cried out onto the Lord......."Oh Lord, let this boy's life return to him!" The Lord heard Elijah's cry and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived. 1st Kings 17:17-24

Then God said, "Take your son, your ONLY son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." ........."Do not lay a hand on the boy", he said, Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Genesis 22:2,12

(I suggest reading the verses in between in both passages)

Father, I thank you for your word. It admonishes as much as it encourages. A lamp for my feet, a light for my path directing and guiding me. Thank you Jesus.

I had to make an important decision recently and I was so confused. I am aware that the Word says that the Lord is not the author of confusion so I had to get on my knees and really ask Him to speak to me because there were just too many voices speaking in my heart. I was led to the first scripture above and although I didn't really get it then, God used it to speak to my heart and make things clear again. I thank God that I have a God who speaks to those who put themselves in a position to listen.

The widow of Zarepath has a chance encounter with Elijah that changed her life forever. She chose to do something 'crazy' and God rewarded her faith by ensuring that she had supernatural provision in the time of famine. That would have been a great enough testimony to just put a 'The End' to her story. Obey God and He provides for you. Simple, right? But then I serve a God who is very interesting. I'm excited about God these days because there's always something new to discover, some secret thing to be revealed.

So the prophet lives in her house and then her child gets sick and not just sick, he progressively gets worse until he dies. Truth be told, the presence of God in your life doesn't mean that there will be no trouble. In fact, in case we ever wanted to forget, Jesus reminded us emphatically that in this world we would have tribulations and trials but he also encourages us to be of good cheer because we have peace in Him as He has overcome the world. I'm wondering God, why allow the situation get to that point, also woman why not call the prophet when the boy's temperature was a little higher than normal. So many questions? Why would Jesus spit and use mud to heal a blind man and simply command the eyes of another to be opened? Why would Jesus ask the men at Lazarus tomb to roll away the stone and then tell a dead man to come out on his own?Why would God deliver Peter from prison and Herod's grasp only to allow him to be crucified upside down later on in life? Why did God deliver Shedrach and co. from the fiery furnace and not Stephen from the mob that made him the first martyr for Christ? So many questions but Jesus is the answer. We serve a God of purpose who sees all and knows all. He is a Sovereign God and makes all things work together for His plan.

Back to the widow, her son is dead and she brings him to the prophet. The prophet asks for the boy and takes him from her arms. What is the boy in your life today? She was at a point where she had run out of options, you can't give food to a dead body to resuscitate it, you can't love it better or provide medicine or band aids. At this point, we must relinquish it/him/her to the Master. I ask again what or who is the boy in your life? Can you entrust it into the hands of the Master? Or are you holding on to something dead and allowing it to ebb your joy, peace and virtue?

Elijah took the boy and took him to the upper room, the place where He met with God. This meant for a period she was physically separated from her son. We must learn to trust God that even when we can't see the miracle, we know that God is working on our behalf. I'm not sure she knew whether she would get her son back alive or not but I know she knew he was safest in the arms of the prophet. Praise God, she got her boy back alive but I wonder what would have happened if she had said no to Elijah when he asked her to give him the boy? I pray never to hold on tightly to something that is dead, being so blinded by the situation that I refuse to see the open arms of God asking me to entrust it with him.

Another important point, when her son died she went to the prophet. Not to the 'experts' but to the prophet, not to her relatives but to the prophet. I'm not saying don't seek advice from experts and relatives but let God always have the final say of whatever situation you are going through. Make room in your counselling to seek God's counsel and let that be what stands in your life. Help me Holy Spirit.
The second scripture came as well and I struggled to understand how the two were linked because in this situation the boy was not dead but God said the principle of trust and obedience link the two, for when Abraham took Isaac on that journey he didn't know if he would come down that mountain alone or with his son. He had to give him the boy as well. There should be nothing ever that we cannot place on the altar when God asks us to. God is not a wicked God, when we truly believe He is a good God, we find it easier to obey Him.

So I gave Him the boy and I cried as I did but He has given me so much peace about the situation and surrounded me with love that leaves me speechless sometimes that I can't help but continue to give praise to my God. I encourage you to do the same. Sometimes the best decisions in life are not always the easiest.

Remain blessed and highly favoured

Zoe Believer

N.B I'm thinking of writing an 'Ask Zoe' post soon so if there is something you want to know about Zoe Believer or my thoughts on specific issues, email amarasviewonstuff@yahoo.com or leave a comment and I'll try and collate questions and give answers to the best of my ability so help me God.

Renewal..

re-new verb (used with object)

1. to begin or take up again, as an acquaintance, a conversation, etc.; resume.
2. to restore or replenish: to renew a stock of goods.
3. to make, say, or do again.
4. to revive; reestablish.
5. to recover (youth, strength, etc.).
6. to restore to a former state; make new or as if new again.


Even youths grow tired and weary,and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will RENEW their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40 30-31 (NIV)

He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles,They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind. Isaiah 40:30-31 (The Message)

This morning God encouraged me through His word by reminding me that for something to get renewed, it must have existed at some point. Those who hope in the Lord will have their strength renewed; renewed because it existed at some point, to renew a passport, license, gym membership or vows, you must have had them already! Life can be draining but God has given us an assurance that if we go back to Him, the source of all strength, He will give us what we need to get back on track, run the race and be victorious.

He is the only one that can renew vision, purpose, relationships and strength. Talk to Him today, be honest about how you feel and ask Him for the ability to do what you are finding it difficult to do and go in faith and do it. A lot of relationships end not so much because of what was done but for the little things that were not done, the things that renew the relationship. Do you need to renew your relationship with the Father today? His arms are always open.

Remain blessed and highly favoured. This is our month of LAUGHTER and I know the Lord will give you a reason to rejoice in Jesus name.

What chapter are you on?

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!

7/7/08

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.

Who would have thought?

For who hath despised the day of small things? Zechariah 4:10a (KJV)

Brothers (and sisters!)I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I PRESS ON towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus Phillipians 3:13-14 (NIV) brackets and capitals mine

For I know the thoughts and plans I have for you, declares the Lord, "plans to PROSPER you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) capitals mine

Who would have thought....

that the orphaned, captive of today would be a queen tomorrow (Esther)
that the ones called barren would have cause to laugh (Sarah, Hannah, Elizabeth)
that the one who stuttered would be bold enough to face Pharoah (Moses)
that the one who denied Christ would speak for Him and die for Him (Peter)
that the foreign widow would have a reason to smile again (Ruth)
that the tanned sherperd boy, forgotten by his own father would reign as king (David)
that after 34 years of paralysis, he would walk home carrying what had been carrying him (thanks, 30+!) (the ex-paralytic!)
that the one who went through the pit, slavery and prison would end up in the palace (Joeseph)
that irrespective of how your today seems, your TOMORROW will be greater as you walk with the Almighty, the TURN IT AROUND God. He is an UNCHANGING CHANGER. He does not change but there is no situation He cannot change.

Today, looking at our lives there might be a great discrepancy between what He has promised and what we are actually experiencing but He has asked us not to despise these days, they are days of small beginnings but thank God because He has greater plans in store for us in our future. We all have made mistakes but let's not let that stop us. Forget the mistakes of yesterday and press on towards what is ahead. There is breakthrough in front of you, there is a testimony in front of you, there is VICTORY in front of you.

Who would have thought, eh?!

Remain blessed and highly favoured. 2008 continues to remain our year of uncommon testimony in the mighty name of Jesus.

Your latter will be greater than your past
You will be blessed, more than you can ask
In spite of all that has been done
The best is yet to come
And your latter will be greater
Your latter will be greater than your past
Israel Houghton

Possibilities

im·pos·si·ble: not possible; unable to be, exist, happen, unable to be done, incapable of being true (Dictionary.com)

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God ALL things are possible Matthew 19:26 (NIV)

June is our month of POSSIBILITIES at KICC. All that has been impossible with man is now possible with God. Let us think about the challenges that are facing us right now, how big they seem, how immovable they appear to be and let us remember that we serve a GOD who is bigger and will make those impossible things become POSSIBLE!

It was supposed to be impossible to have a child at that age, ask Sarah and Elizabeth
It was supposed to be impossible to walk on water, ask Peter
It was supposed to be impossible for a dead girl to come back to life, ask Jairus's daughter
It was supposed to be impossible to be raised from the dead after burial, ask Lazarus
It was supposed to be impossible to feed 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish, ask those who partook of the meal
It was supposed to be impossible for him to walk again, ask the paralytic
It was supposed to be impossible for an 'immigrant'ex-con to become a Prime Minister, ask Joeseph
It was supposed to be impossible for water to turn to wine, ask the bridegroom at Cana
It is supposed to be impossible for that dream you have on the inside to be birthed into reality but is it really? I'm asking you!

The Bible is full of impossible situations turning around to become possible. We call them MIRACLES. That God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Let's exercise our faith muscles and dare to believe that those dreams He has given us will come to pass irrespective of how impossible they may seem in the realm of the natural. It is well.

2008 continues to remain our year of UNCOMMON testimonies. Keep me in your prayers.

Remain blessed and highly favoured

I Dare you to.........Praise

I will exalt you, my God the King;I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another;they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,and I will meditate on your wonderful works. Psalm 145:1-5 (NIV) Bold mine

I asked; "What is praise?". He replied, "praise is an ATTITUDE that acknowledges that all that you are, all that you do and all that you have is all due to the fact that I love you and will always uphold my word concerning you and no, it isn't the fast songs you sing at the beginning of service"!!

I just noticed this morning that the last few psalms have to do with praising the Lord. So many times, the psalmist says "I will praise you". We can only praise God when we meditate on His wonderful works. I tend to worry about so many things and for a while I've not really been in a happy place but TODAY I decided to meditate on His wonderful works in my life.

He has...
redeemed me and adopted me into His family
made me fearfully and wonderfully
kept me alive and well
provided me with shelter and enough food to eat
kept my family safe and sound
created this earth with just the right concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere for me to breathe
given me a job
has answered my prayers
supplied me with talents
put the enemy to shame on my behalf on so many occasions
given me the ability to also be a blessing in a small way
given me the Holy Spirit who takes me from natural to supernatural
blessed me with a pastor who ministers into my life for TRANSFORMATION
forgiven me and taken me back each time I have strayed
connected me with people who have been such a blessing

Not everything in my life is the way that I want it to be, I know I'm not where I should be but I praise Him because when I look back, I can surely say He has been faithful. He has brought me from a mighty long way and I know that He still has a lot in store for me as long as I choose to walk in the way He has prepared for me. If you have time, meditate on Psalm 145, the psalmist does a better job in expressing his praise.

So, I DARE YOU to praise Him today as if you have received the answer to that one thing you have been believing God for. It is well. Remain blessed and highly favoured. 2008 continues to remain our year of UNCOMMON TESTIMONY.

Come and join me sing hallelujah
Jehovah Jireh has done me well
.....................................................................................
He'll do it again, He'll do it again
Yes, He will do it AGAIN
Just take a look at where you are NOW
and where you've been
He'll ALWAYS come through
For us
He's the same now as then
Don't you know God cannot change
We may not know HOW, we may not know WHEN
But He'll do it AGAIN

This God!

This our God we serve, honestly He is truly interested and involved in the affairs of men. I was just watching Gladiators on Sky (yes o, I'm a big Gladiators fan..i think the new one on Sky is fab!!!)Anyways, one of the male contenders caught my interest (not in the way you may be thinking!!). My first impression was that he had a rather small frame and then when he spoke, the first thing he said was that he was a Christian, he believed in God and that although he looked like David, God enabled David slay Goliath! I was impressed about how he was so vocal about his faith.
Well the games started but the gladiators are HUGE; Tornado, Destroyer, Oblivion aah even me I really felt for the guy because the other contender was more evenly matched physically speaking to the gladiators. As I expected, when it got to the eliminator there was a whopping 11 seconds between them.

When he was asked what he thought about his chances, he said that God's will would be done. Can I confess?? I laughed, the way I imagine Sarah must have laughed when the angels said.."by this time next year, you will have a child". My sister looked at me and said "You never know". I was like, this guy has lost. Not only is he smaller, the larger guy has a time advantage on him. So the race started and as I predicted, the big guy was seriously in the lead but like from nowhere, the small guy kept reducing the gap until they were neck and neck. Suddenly 'Goliath' fell and my guy got into the lead. At the last obstacle, he didn't have any strength to go on and for a minute it seemed like 'Goliath' would win but as if from nowhere, 'David' got the strength to get to the top and my mouth was agape for a few minutes. My sister just looked at me and said, "I told you so". Even the host on the show commented that it must have been God's will that he won.

As we go into a new week, sometimes it may feel like the odds are stacked against us, we are like David and our challenges seem to be like Goliath but we need to remember that we serve a God who is bigger than any situation that we may face. He is a God who can use 4 lepers to defeat a mighty army, 300 men with lamps and trumpets to defeat an army. He does not look at our physical sizes, he looks at the size of our faith. So, go with God. When all your strength is gone, lean on Him. He makes impossibilities possible.

Have an absolutely wonderful week and remember that 2008 continues to remain our year of UNCOMMON testimonies. It is well.

Remain blessed and highly favoured.

Hold on

At least there is HOPE for a tree (Believer):if (she) is cut down (she) will SPROUT again, and (her) new shoots will not FAIL. (Her) roots may grow old in the ground and (her) stump die in the soil, YET at the scent of water, (she) will BUD and put forth shoots like a plant (Job 14:7-9, NIV)

He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with SONGS OF JOY, carrying sheaves with Him (Psalm 126:6, NIV)Capitals and brackets mine

I wonder what would have happened if....

Noah did not build the ark because people were laughing at him (Hebrews 11:7)
Sarah had considered her age (Genesis 21:1-3)
Job decided he'd had enough (Job 14:14)
Joeseph had chosen not to interpret the butler's dream (Genesis 40:6-14)
Ruth had linked arms with Orpah and gone back to Moab (Ruth 1:16-17)
Esther did not take her petition before the king (Esther 4:15-16)
Elisha had turned back at the Jordan (2nd Kings 2:1-10)
Naaman refused to dip in the river (2nd Kings 5:10-14)
The Hebrew boys bowed to the idol (Daniel 3:16-18)
The woman with the issue of blood had not pressed through the crowd (Luke 8:42-48)
Jesus had turned back at the sight of the cross (Matthew 26:42, 27:46)

I also wonder what would have happened if

Martin Luther King had kept his dream to himself
Rosa Parks had stood up when asked
William Wilberforce had stopped presenting his bill to Commons
Thomas Edison had given up after the hundreth attempt

Most importantly, I wonder what will happen
If I and you do not GIVE UP today?
even when the odds seemed to be stacked against us

All the names mentioned above had genuine reasons to give up on their dreams or throw away their faith and belief because of the issues and obstacles they faced. Yet at the decisive moments of their lives, they decided to HOLD on because they knew the ONE in whom they had believed was faithful. Laurie Beth Jones in her wonderful book, Jesus in Blue Jeans terms this as 'not flinching at the critical moment'. We will all face such critical moments, some of us are facing them right now, so what will we decide to do? give up and throw in the towel or hold on a little bit longer. I love the Scripture above from Job, the Bible says at the scent of water, a tree will bud. In the Bible, water is symbolic of the word of God. The only way we can get that scent is to keep our eyes fixed on the Word of God. I'm not for a moment saying this is easy, it isn't. The Word is a source of encouragement, a source of power, it isn't natural to just keep confessing God's word when it seems to be totally opposite to what your eyes can see concerning your circumstance but that's what faith is about. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) says it's being SURE of what we HOPE for and CERTAIN of what we do not SEE. Do not be afraid for surely there will be an end to the issues that we face and our expectations shall never be cut off. All that we need is to hold on to God. His Word is true and if He has given you a word concerning something, He can never, never, never fail.

So please, keep holding on, sometimes it's that little extra that differentiates a 'breaking' from a breakthrough.

You are blessed and highly favoured. This continues to remain our year of UNCOMMON TESTIMONY.

Don't give up

This morning while reading my Bible, a song came to me. I term it one of my more 'local' praise and worship songs that I sang as a child. It goes like this

everywhere He went
He was doing good
Almighty Healer
He healed the leper
When the people saw Him
they started walking
even TODAY
my Lord is doing GOOD

What really got me was the part that says that even TODAY..this very day..the 19th of January 2008..the Lord is doing GOOD. Sometimes when we have been waiting on the Lord for an answer to a specific need or a particular issue..the beginning of a new year sometimes seems bittersweet. We are happy to come into a new year alive and well but it is a reminder that the clock is ticking and we have been waiting. My encouragement to us is that even TODAY..our Lord is doing GOOD and in His perfect timing..those desires will come to pass in Jesus name.

In the Gospels..we hear about Jesus going from place to place..healing the sick, raising the dead, opening blind eyes, setting people free from demonic oppression and calming storms. Everywhere He went, He was doing good. I encourage you today to cling to Him and never let go..even though you are tired, just come to Him tired. If you can't stand He will carry you. As long as you are with Him, you will see that good. Never give up on that dream, just ask Him to come into the situation and watch Him work wonders.

I'm really expectant for good things this year. 2008 is our year of UNCOMMON TESTIMONY.

Remain blessed and highly favoured

Me