Chasing after winds, chasing after God

Yes we can and we should dream again

The love that compels me to repent and have faith

The Lord who sees me

The weight of waiting can make or break us, but grace upholds us

Winding up, be consistent

Having God is the ultimate reward

God works in us in ways we can't see

God is working in ways our eyes can't see

When God instructs you

Demolishing every fear, and securing us in Himself

Everyday, Jesus Christ carries us through victoriously

Eternity focus

Watering others in your season

Leaning and learning from God

When my words no longer make sense, Lord help me lean in

Being faithful where God has placed us

listening and obeying the Lord's voice

Offering to God an acceptable sacrifice

We achieve because of God's strength

Dear God we ask for faith, courage and strength to love and trust You

Where are you? God is calling

Seal my heart God as I wait to see you someday

We are all searching, searching for something

Jesus, we can't live without you

Today let us pray together and trust God for Grace in the season

Today I want to encourage individuals serving God faithfully

Take your place in the church of Christ and serve

Enjoy and find joy in fellowship

And God rested on the 7th day

God calls us into communion with Him

God cares so much He is calling us to come to Him

Our God is super orderly and works a beautiful work if we allow Him

I look back from where God excavated me from

A little hitch but we continue to journey and grow together

Back to the beginning

Taking that bold step to share Christ

The name of Jesus is Powerful

Asking that BIG question, why I'm I here?

Psalm 3[a]
A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.
1 Lord, how many are my foes!
    How many rise up against me!

I have been feeling of no use and of no importance, like a great sinner, such a terrible and horrible image. We all want to have a good image of ourselves.

God has been showing me my life and how ugly sin in me looks. Yet I sit and marvel at how good and righteous I feel I am.

This point is deeply hurtful and disappointing as I look at the reality of who I really am. The sinner who thinks is a saint.

Ps 3:2 Many are saying of me,
    “God will not deliver him.”[b]

Whilst the physical me feels that low, I start wondering whether I am good enough, the right wife, right friend, right mom, right sibling, right daughter? And I can hear this loud voice telling me I have failed terribly! I am terrible! I hear the devil accusing me. And since it is true, my spirit starts to feel the weight of the sin in me. And the question of why then I am here arises. I feel like things would be better without me.

And while I am at that thought, I hear the very quiet voice, the voice of my maker reminding me not to allow the accuser to speak over my life. Whilst the accuser of brethren is working hard to see me condemned, God quietly reminds me that He has paid the price for me and so I am a saint not because I have done anything good, CLEARLY, but because Jesus paid for my sins on the cross.

Then I hear the same voice of God reminding me that He has set His angels charge over me. He then reminds me to lift my head, that He is my glory and the lifter of my head.

He then opens my heart to the big question, why do I feel I am not worthy to be here and that I am of no use? Because my head tells me to do big things to be of impact, I am feeling frustrated that I am not doing the big things. By my standards, again.

The peaceful quiet voice asks me to resume what I was doing, blog, write those devotions. That is very big in God's eyes, I should stop trying to look for things I should do when He has already told me to do what I am doing now, write.

Ps3:3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,

    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

I feel my spirit lifting. I notice my mind is no longer overcome by the sense of guilt. I sense the accuser of brethren has fled. The angels of God are ministering to me.

I wake up and write, my heart feels fulfilled. I will keep writing and doing what God tells me to do now. Tomorrow is in His hands.

Then I sense He is pointing me to how subtle these thoughts are, yet driving many to suicidal acts.
Many are killing themselves because they don't see their usefulness in this world.

We all have a purpose in this life. It is a unique way to worship our maker as we serve and in turn we get a deep sense of satisfaction.

We must find our purpose, how? By doing what He tells us to do today. Tomorrow is in His hands.

We must find strength in God who gives this purpose, how? By accepting He made us and that He fully knows what we need and need to do.

We must start living our purpose in God, how? By realizing to get to God we need someone to bridge the gap. God is Holy we are sinners. Jesus Christ has become the sacrifice that took the sin away and brought us His righteousness.

Psalm 3:3 King James Version (KJV)

3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

Finish what you started

The end is better....
Have you started something a business, built a relationship with friends and family, pursued a career among many tasks and midway feel the deep urge to quit? Give up on that sibling? close up that business? pack up and go back home?

We find so much strength in hearing God say the words in Eccl 7, that the end will be so much better and we should look forward to seeing the end.

Eccl 7:8
8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
    and patience is better than pride.

It was a good fight, by God's grace
When we look back through the journey, we realize that truly the hand of the Lord has been mighty in our lives and He was working all things out. (Rom 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.)

We can then be able to look back like Paul and say that we have really fought a good fight, not because we were super people, but because we had an amazingly wonderful God.

2 Tim 4:7
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

God is our perfect example
Gen 2:1-3
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.

2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Prayer
God I want to be present and allow your strength to carry me and help me fight a good fight, for Your glory oh God. Amen

Some good resources as we wait
While We Are Waiting, God Is Working.: Christian Message Writing Journal
Joseph: A DVD Study: Waiting on God's Timing, Living in God's Plan
Cottonwood Strong: Bent But Not Broken
Finishing Strong: A Memoir.
Finishing Strong with Joy
At the Hang-Up: Seeking Your Purpose, Running the Race, Finishing Strong

Raising our children as God desires

Train the children

Prov 22:6

6 Start children off on the way they should go,

    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

• A parent is the first trainer, train your children

1 Cor 14:9

9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 

• When you train a child, speak a language they understand. That way they can learn and follow the path God has set for them

Encourage the children, don't discourage them
Eph 6:4
4 Fathers,[b] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

• Don't frustrate your children (intensely irritating children)
• Train the children and instruct them in the ways of the Lord

Col 3:21

21 Fathers,[c] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

• Frustrating children makes them bitter and discourages them in life. Overly correcting a child can actually frustrate and deeply irritate children

Training goes in hand with discipline

Prov 13:24

24 Whoever spares the rod hates their children,

    but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.

Resources for training children

Bible Verse Baby Quilt

Kitchen Lamb Bank with Scripture

The Toddler's Handbook

Baby Boomers Beauty Bible

The 23rd Psalm

The Essential First Nutrition Bible & Cookbook

Baby Swaddle Scripture Blanket with Bible Verse Quote

The Story of Baby Jesus

Your New Pregnancy Bible

The Babysitting Bible

Bible Pictures to Color (A-B-C Series)

Bible Baby: Colors

Our insecurities make us ill treat others

A very strange story takes place just after the fall of man in Gen 4:1-8. Cain and Abel are brothers uniquely gifted. Abel herds, Cain farms. They both go to offer a sacrifice to God. God accepts Abel's sacrifice and rejects Cain's. Cain invite Abel for a walk and KILLS HIM!

Gen 4:3-5, 8

3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[d] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

This story is quite bothering if you read the speed with which Abel is killed before we even hear about his life!and the person who kills him is his own brother! There were only 4 people in the world.

If we were to read through above scriptures again, it is clear Abel did not interfere with Cain's sacrifice or sabotage or make him look bad before God.

But Cain's reaction showed some things in his heart:

1. He believed Abel was the reason his sacrifice was not accepted
2. He subconsciously believed someone needed to pay for his 'rejected offerings' experience
3. He believed if his sacrifice was not accepted Abel's sacrifice should not have been accepted either
4. He believes Abel tried to outdo him in the offering
5. Because of the evil thoughts harboured in Cain's heart, he reacted. He acted on the lies he believed in his heart.

This story might feel far fetched but it is the reality of our lives everyday.

How often do I start believing a lie? So many times!

I am married and it is very easy for me to start wondering why my spouse is acting in a certain way. Slowly, I might notice that my actions and reactions are more led by the thoughts I now believe and think of my spouse. Insecurities suddenly become so strong and suspicion becomes my new hobby.

This is applicable in every sphere of our lives. We have believed lies concerning our friends, family members, colleagues, and we treat them as per the lies we believe.

We even believe in lies that cut across language and origin, cultures and ethnicity to the point that some actually kill those they believe to be different.

This is what God told Cain before Cain killed Abel:
Gen 4:6-7
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

God warns Cain that sin is longing to have him! Cain was angry. God who sees the thoughts and intentions of the heart must have seen all the evil thoughts brewing in Cain against his brother.

2 Cor 10:5
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Today God is reminding us to quieten those thoughts in our minds that have started influencing us towards sin. We should take them captive and make them submit to Christ. We should speak to the thoughts in our minds and say No for God's glory. If we don't, our brains will create lies that will seem truths and corrupt us from within.

We can sin and be so casual about the sin instead of repenting
Gen 4:9
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Sin has encroached and has taken over such that Cain kills Abel and answers God casually when asked about his brother. I'm I his keeper?

What began as a rejected sacrifice became a murder case because of thoughts that were not put under Christ. An innocent man, Abel, died because a perception had been formed in his brother's mind concerning him and eventually he was killed.

Gen 4:10
10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.

The innocent person cries out to God even in a situation like death, for the injustice experienced.

God wants us all to rule over this sin of the mind that distorts our view of others. He says we must rule over the sin that seeks to have us, Gen 4:7 by bringing our thoughts under Christ, 2 Cor 10:5

Amen

Resources
Jeremiah 29:11 Wall Plaque
Matthew 19:26 Gift Pen with LED Light and Stylus Tip
Jeremiah 29:11 Engraved Wood Handle Steel Hammer
Bible Verse Baby Quilt
Christian Art Gifts Mug
Journal Bundle for Women | Floral Print with Scripture Verse

Why do we run away from love when we sin?

Our reaction when we sin
When I do wrong, my natural instinct is to try cover up, down play the sin, assume it away or just run away hoping the sin will disappear.

There was a similar reaction when Adam and Eve sinned against God.

Gen 3:8-13
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Our natural state is to first defend ourselves before we actually say yes we did wrong and take up responsibility for the sin. In fact in verse 12 Adam is hinting to God that he was okay and sinless until God did the mistake of bringing the woman sinner.
Eve blamed  the devil in verse 13.

Why then do we hide when we sin?

Sin has consequences, we are afraid of the consequences
Rom 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.

In Gen 3:10 Adam tells God that he hid because he was naked and afraid.
Adam acknowledges he was not in a state to face God. The reality of his sin was weighing on him.

Rom 7:15, 21
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

Paul expresses the frustration of trying to do good and ending up doing wrong. We probably feel so disappointed at ourselves and we feel we have disappointed both man and God so we want to get out of the puzzle and hope everyone's life will be better without us.

Matt 23:3-5
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”
5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

Judas found himself in such a situation and in his frustration with himself he killed himself.

Is there hope then for us? YES

1. Paul asks this question too and the answer is God delivers us through Christ.

Rom 7:24-25
24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature[d] a slave to the law of sin.

2. God has given us a new identity in Christ when we sin we can confidently run to the father through Jesus.

2 Cor 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!

3. God assures us that He will definitely discipline us but for a very good reason: He loves us and cares for us as His children

Heb 12:5-6
5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a]

Resourceful reading
Raising Christ-Like Children
The Secret Power of Speaking God's Word
The Path Made Clear: Discovering Your Life's Direction and Purpose

Your pain is in your area of calling be a ministry

Hannah's prayer
10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow,saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

I believe this was the first time that Hannah prayed to God and instead of asking for a child only, she committed to give back this child to the Lord. A child that she had waited for and longed for was now being released to God in faith.

This prayer turned to be about God and not Hannah.

Ministry is birthed through pain
This process was painful for Hannah. She experienced a lot of pain and torture from Peninnah. But one day, Hannah decided to release this matter to the Lord as a sacrifice to His Holy name.

Let us release our situations to God and tell Him that we are willing to serve Him through the experiences we have been through.

Rom 8:28
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose.

God Himself assures us that everything will work for the good of the believers. Since God's desire is that many will love Him and come to the knowledge of His saving grace, we can trust Him to make beautiful our pain and minister to others through us.

God's grace is sufficient
2 Cor 12:8-9
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

This verse can be a beautiful prayer for ourselves and those going through seasons of pain that we may all emerge victorious through the trials.

Samuel, the son Hannah bore, became a great priest in Israel that God spoke through.
When Hannah allowed God to take over, God ministered to an entire nation.

God will use you to minister to nations, hold on.

Recommended resources
Journal of the Life, Travels, Sufferings, and Labour of Love in the Work of the Ministry of That Worthy Elder and Faithful Servant of Jesus Christ
God Is In The Waiting: Finding Strength in the Things That Cause Us to Pause
Give Your God Weakness and He'll Give You His Strength: Gift for Christian Lined Pages for Journal
Strength to Run: Hope and Strength in the Race of Suffering
''GOD is Within HER, SHE Will NOT Fall Psalm 46:5" - Inspirational Cuff Bracelet
God of Joy, God of Strength

Jesus wants your pain, go to Him

The world, a fallen state

This world is in a fallen state because of sin therefore pain and suffering form part of the evils of this world. There are things that happen in our lives that leave us asking why Lord? Why did it have to be me, us, them? 

A fallen world with so much evil. 

Is there hope? Will it get better? When will things turn around? We even wonder why some people who we think are terrible seem to be having such a great life.

A married couple will struggle to get babies and stay in pain for years, a teenager will engage in casual sex once and get pregnant ....

A man will work diligently and hard yet get retrenched, another man will get promotions on the basis of who they know....

An innocent child is killed in war, another couple is wishing they had no children...

A spouse will yearn for their departed spouse, another spouse yearns for their spouse to depart..

Death, sickness, joblessness, insecurity, corruption, rape, murder... So much pain in this world.

There are so many things gone wrong, yet our nature admits that there is a deep longing for someone to save us from the mess we have created through sin.

The bible (1 Sam 1-28)

A story is told of Hannah and Peninnah married to the same husband Elkanah, Peninnah with children and Hannah without. Yet Hannah was loved more than Peninnah and the husband assured her he meant more to her than ten sons would have. Peninnah kept provoking Hannah because she had no children. In fact Peninnah would irritate Hannah so much that she would cry and not eat. This was pain carried on year after year.

We are not told much about Peninnah but I am wondering whether she also was pained for not being loved like Hannah was, given huge portions of meat like Hannah yet she had borne Elkanah children. 

Our reaction that brings no good

My thoughts are taken back to Peninnah. I don't know if any woman would be comfortable or happy in her situation. Maybe she felt she had given Elkanah many babies yet she was not the favourite. She felt unloved. Peninnah is not seen going to God. What she did was turn to the 'enemy' (Hannah) and attacked her causing the poor woman more pain.

She reacted negatively and very little is said about her after that. In fact we don't know if she was ever loved which might be a very sad outcome.

Our response in times of trouble (and at all times)

The story above has a beautiful ending but for a moment let us focus on how these 2 ladies acted and reacted.

Hannah seems to have been going through deep anguish, maybe depressed. Not much is said about Peninnah but she must have been going through her own form of anguish.

Peninnah chose to irritate Hannah to the point that Hannah just cried and could not even eat. She pushed Hannah further into pain.

Hannah on the other hand bore her pain, cried and she did one amazing thing. Hannah poured her heart out to the Lord, poured all the bitterness in her soul. (v9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. v10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.)

After pouring her heart out to God something amazing happened. v18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

There is hope

I believe the solution to all our issues is running very fast to Jesus. Jesus did something for Hannah, He took away the burden and gave her His burden. She received a peace beyond human understanding

Matt 11:28-30 (Jesus Christ is calling us)

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Useful resources

Poems and Messages of Hope in Christ Jesus

A Story of a Grandma's Love: Sharing the Hope of Christ

Hope, Wonder, and Glory: Piano Solos Celebrating Christ's Birth

Christ the Only Hope, the Crusade of the Americas: 1968, 1969, 1970

The Threefold Gift of God; Or, Christ Jesus, the Object of Faith, Hope and Love

  

Guard your heart for God's glory

My eyes are like a camera and video recorder, capturing images and making my mind think through them and make me desire or repulse somethings.

One minute I will see a certain dress code and allow my head to just go on a spiral and I will notice that in my heart I have assumed that such a dress code would not be by a believer.

Other times I will look at the material things people own and secretly wonder what it would be like living their lives (lust, jealousy, envy).

There are times when I also see a passionate love for Christ in a person and my heart longs to love my God deeply.

What does God say concerning our eyes and how can we please Him with them?

The eye, door to the heart
Job 31:1
 “I made a covenant with my eyes
    not to look lustfully at a young woman.

What we allow our eyes to see should be honourable before God. Our eyes open our hearts to good and evil thoughts.

Psalm 101:3
I will not look with approval
    on anything that is vile.
I hate what faithless people do;
    I will have no part in it.

The psalmist and Job make a vow to keep their eyes from looking or approving that which is extremely unpleasant (evil). The reality of the matter is that our eyes actually act as door that can be very dangerous if we do not guard what we look at.

With the eyes we approve and disapprove what we consume. Our eyes can shun evil.

An unguarded heart and satan's destruction 
Mark 7:20-23
20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

When our hearts remain unguarded, they bring forth traits that are evil. When this happens, we give the devil opportunities to destroy us. We give him a foothold in our lives and he only seeks to destroy us and make us miss on Jesus Christ's great salvation.

Jesus Christ's victory
John 10:10
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Christ Jesus has come to bring to life (make alive) the purity of our hearts so that we remain with pure hearts and live abundantly in Him.

The devil on the other hand is a thief who steals the purity Christ wants us to have, then kills us through sin and destroys us.

Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

Recommended resources
Wireless Computer Mouse with BIBLE VERSE PSALM 101:3
Notebook-(Above All Else, Guard Your Heart)
Bible Verse Bracelet-(Above All Else Guard Your Heart)
Bible journal-(Above All Else, Guard Your Heart)

Submitting my thoughts to Christ

This world has the potential to challenge us to the extent that we can wake up and even doubt our real names! It is such a real battle that we are faced with everyday. When we look around us it is so easy to believe what the world tells us!

The world starts by telling us we are not good enough, we need to make changes on our image, we need to step up our social status, we need to act, think or speak in a certain way. If we are not careful, these expectations can erode the truths of God in us and plunge us in a bottomless dark pit.

So what does Christ say concerning our minds?

2 Cor 4:4
 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

This world can cause us to stop believing what Christ has said concerning living lives in Him. Unbelief is followed by a blinding of the unbelieving mind which blocks our view of Christ's glory which reveals God.

What should we do?
1 Pet 1:13
13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

Christ requires that:
Our minds be fully sober
Our hope be on God's grace revealed through Christ
We be ready for Christ's coming

Recommended resources
Personalized journal- (The Peace of God, Which Surpasses All Understanding, Will Guard Your Hearts and Minds Through Christ Jesus: Philippians 4:7)

Bringing my mind under God's authority

Guard what goes in and out of your heart
Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.

Luke 6:45
45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Guard your hearts and guard the content you consume so that when you talk, your words shall be honourable and will build you and others. [Col 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.]

2 Cor 10:3-5
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Bringing our thoughts and imaginations under Jesus

Phil 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

It is very easy to have a mind with very wild thoughts that are not edifying. These thoughts should be brought under the authority of Jesus Christ.
When we bring our thoughts under the authority of God, the peace of God that is beyond human understanding will take over and rule our hearts in Christ Jesus.

When we get wild thoughts, fears, rumours and every other imaginations, we should find strength to quickly pray concerning them and destroy them in Christ's power.

Solution to wandering thoughts

Prov 4:25
Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.

My eyes can be fixated on things that help me keep my thoughts worried or on things that help me look to Christ and drive me to pray to Him more.

Resources we recommend
Book-The Secret Power of Speaking God's Word
Book-Let God Fight Your Battles : Being Peaceful in the Storm
Prayer Changes Things (Glass Plaque)
Do Not Be Anxious (Writing Notebook)
SpotColorArt Do Not Be Anxious about Anything (Philippians 4:6 Handcrafted Canvas Print, 13" x 17")

Simple check on my actions

1. Do what is right
James 4:17

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

The bible makes it clear that I should do what is right no matter the circumstances I am going through.

2. Love in actions
1John 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

We should do what we know is right and always do so with a lot of love. Love that is evidenced through words and speech and actions.
Our actions should be led by love that the father has also loved us with.

3. Act in reverence of God
Psalms 7:11 God is a righteous judge,
    a God who displays his wrath every day.

God requires that we do the right things in love and reverence of Him who is our righteous judge. Knowing He is a righteous judge who displays His might and wrath should encourage me to worship Him as God in the things I do and do so with love.

4. Allow God to search your heart
Psalms 4:4 Tremble and[d] do not sin;
    when you are on your beds,
    search your hearts and be silent.

The Spirit of God is able to lead us in examining our lives according to God's righteousness if we allow Him.

Get yourself a journal for self reflection
Activities planner journal
Beautiful pink journal, handcraft
Beautiful brown journal, handicraft
cute pink Journal for the lil' ones

Look around you and see the power of God, trust Him

Psalm 8[a]

1 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
in the heavens.

2 Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?[c]

5 You have made them[d] a little lower than the angels[e]
and crowned them[f] with glory and honor.

6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their[g] feet:

7 all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,

8 the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Useful resources

David's Psalms

A Study Guide for King James Bible's Psalm 8

Answered Prayer: A True Story of a Woman's Personal Struggle for a Deeper Walk with God and How He Answered Her Deepest Prayer

Footsteps for Land: Israel Coastal Prayer Walk

Walk with Me: A Child's First Book of Prayer

Grace Abounds

When God Made the World

Anger and reacting in Anger

1 Cor 13:4-5

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

The first thing I should ask God to help me do is be patient and be kind. If I become impatient, chances of being unkind are highly likely.

The second thing is to pray God to help me keep away from envying others when good things come their way but instead celebrate with them. 

The third thing is to ask God to help me overcome boastfulness and pride. These vices are a result of a selfish heart in me that makes me believe that I am better than others and so I deserve better than them. It will push me to always think of self, that I am the one who deserves what they have...just me and not them.

Verse 5 reminds us what love does. It is the opposite of selfishness. We should watch ourselves to ensure that we don't dishonour others or seek things for self gratification, or sit about like time bombs and explode at a tick. Instead, we should make room for forgiveness in our hearts.

God in His divine nature has given us love that builds a character in us as shown in verse 4-5 and this forms a strong foundation for His love in us to overcome anger.
He moves our eyes from constantly thinking about us to thinking about others through the love lenses that God uses.

When we see through God's eyes and heart, we are more likely to be patient and kind, humble and honourable, caring and forgiving which is a perfect solution towards overcoming anger.

There will be room in our hearts to give people second, third and many more chances in our interactions with them without keeping records of wrong.

So today's prayer is a prayer to be filled with love.
Lord today I want to behave (Act) and respond (React) in love. Help me God.
Amen

Useful resources to overcome anger
God's Peace in Your Home: Ten Ways to Reduce Anger in Relationships
Forgiveness
My Forgiveness Notebook: Leave Your Anger Behind & Learn to Forgive Yourself and Others
The Five Minute Gratitude Journal: Experiencing God's Power and Love Through 5 Minutes Gratitude (Reflect/Prayer Requests/Bible Study)(Daily Gratitude Journal/ Gratitude Notebook)

I looked for someone...can we be found when God looks for a someone?

Ezekiel 22:30-31

30 “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. 31 So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

2 Chronicles 7:14

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

We don't deserve anything good. In deed we deserve evil upon us because we sin in many ways (Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God).  But God is a merciful God who keeps looking for someone who will come in repentance and also repent for the sins of the land so that He can avert the wrath that is swiftly coming upon us.

In Ezekiel verse above, God warns that if no one is found to stand in the gap for the land then God's wrath will come upon the land.

We have such a merciful God who reminds us in 2 chronicles above that when evil has come upon our land we can still turn from sin and repent and He will heal the land experiencing His wrath.

One important thing to note is that God is not looking for random people, He is looking for His sons (Romans  8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.) . Heirs of His kingdom (Romans  8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.), those who profess Christ Jesus as their Lord and saviour (Romans  10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved). Those that Christ through His authority in heaven and on earth has sent to go forth and reach nations to the ends of the earth (Matt 28:18-20 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”).

Today the world is deeply crying for salvation. There is war, hunger, deaths, violence against children, so much evil! The reality is that we live in a sick world that is deeply crying for healing. This healing is found at the cross of Jesus Christ and believers in Jesus Christ have been given the authority to go to God confidently and pray for the needed healing.

Let us be found crying for our lands. God has placed us in the different parts of the world for a specific reason as the body of Christ. Pray for the much needed salvation of the land you are in.

The first prayer is for people of the land to be reconciled back to God and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. God deeply longs that everyone should be saved (1 Timothy 2:2-4 2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.)and is making us ambassadors through whom He can reconcile the world back to Him. (2 Corinthians 5:20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.)

Amen

Useful resources 
What Prayer Can Do for Churches and Nations
New City of Righteousness That Exalted the Nation: Ask Seek and Knock and Pray and Pray
The Daniel Prayer Video Study: Prayer That Moves Heaven and Changes Nations

Children do minister, allow them

Start by learning and teaching children God's word
Deut 6:6-7

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

God requires that we deliberately teach our children His commands. This is the foundation that will help them begin to minister at a young age. As a parent, it is important that this word of God be in you so that you teach from a point of agreement with God.

Encourage children to continue in God's word at all ages
2 Tim 3:14-15

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Paul wrote to Timothy reminding him to continue.. Timothy had been taught scriptures from infancy as the scripture shows us and so on this foundation of God's word he was encouraged to continue in the ways of God.

Parents need to lay a foundation that will help children know God at a tender age.

God is clear that children are His and that He uses them
Psalms 127:3

3 Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward from him.

If then they are from God, they have the potential to accomplish God's will on earth.

Psalms 8:2

2 Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
    to silence the foe and the avenger.

Imagine God does such a powerful deed as this. Using children to establish strongholds against enemies and silencing the avenger! What a powerful gift God has blessed parents with! Let us unlock this potential in Jesus name.

Matt 18:10

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

The message version puts it this way:
10 “Watch that you don’t treat a single one of these childlike believers arrogantly. You realize, don’t you, that their personal angels are constantly in touch with my Father in heaven?

This truth is so powerful that we should teach the children as early as possible God's words so that they can join in to pray for us parents when we are in need! Praise God.

The story of Samuel, a baby fully given to the Lord after weaning
1 Sam 1:21-22

21 When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vow, 22 Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the Lord, and he will live there always.”[c]

• We can start by dedicating our children to the Lord and committing to training them in His ways. Hannah took a step further and gave her only son to live at the temple serving God daily.

1 Sam 3:1,4,7,19-21

1 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

• We can actually have activities that are christian and miss on pointing the children to God. Notice Samuel was serving under Eli in verse 1, but in verse 7 we are told Samuel did not know the Lord yet. We can pray for our children and ask God to call them as He did to Samuel in verse 4. He will reveal Himself to them.

19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. 21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.

• God continued to use Samuel in such a great way that none of Samuel's words fell on the ground! How powerful!
• God continued to reveal Himself to Samuel through His word. Let us allow our children an opportunity to know God. They will minister and serve nations.

God can change the story of a lineage through children

The story of King Josiah

2 Kings 22:1-2

1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

It is interesting that the bible refers to Josiah as a son of David, see below verses and you notice his biological father was Amon who was evil. His grandfather was Manasseh who was also evil! (verse 19-23).

2 Kings 21:25-26

25 As for the other events of Amon’s reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 26 He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza. And Josiah his son succeeded him as king.

This is the story of hope for the children! God can preserve them. God can re-write their stories! We as parents have the power to change the destiny of other children who interact with our children by introducing them to our Lord and saviour.

Be encouraged dear parent!

Some useful resources to help you raise a godly child
Heritage Parenting: A Parent's Guide to Intentionally Raising Godly Children
A Shift Has Come: Pearls of Wisdom for Raising Successful, Godly Children
The Sons of Eli: Or Words of Caution, Counsel, and Encouragement, Addressed to the Children of Godly Parents (1877)
The Obedience Factor: How to Raise Godly Children
Footprints: Raising Godly Children: The Life and Legacy of Robert L. Hoover Sr.
Speaking Forth Godly Children: Influencing the Personality and Character of Children Yet Unborn.
How To Raise Godly Children
My Book of Godly Characteristics: For Children
Christian Parenting: The ABC Technique for Parents to Raise Godly Children (Special Prayers for Children Included)

Staying in God's presence

Psalms 51:4

Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.

When I read this verse as part of my confession prayers before God, He opened my eyes to the realities of these words:

1. When we sin, we actually sin against God. It is knowing what God requires of us and deliberately choosing to ignore Him. Sin can also be unintentional.
2. There is a drift from God's presence that makes it easier for us to sin. This drift results from the lack of thinking about God.

Psalms 51:5-6

5 Surely I was sinful at birth,

    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;

    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

The reality is that we have been born in sin, we can't separate ourselves from sin. God requires righteousness and we are without excuse because He made provision for the forgiveness of sin through the cross of Jesus. 

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Psalms 51:7

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Only God can take away our sin that turns us from thinking of God and being in His presence.

As we look to God to help us stay in His presence every moment, we make the below prayer that David made:

Psalms 51:10-12

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,

    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence

    or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation

    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me

Tools you can use
Dare to Abide: Cultivating God's Prevailing Presence in Your Life
Selah: Intentionally Spending Time in the Presence of God

The Presence of God Is Among Us
Discovering God in Diapers and Dishes: Finding His Presence in the Midst of Motherhood

God Is in Your Pizza
God Has a Plan for Little Boys
God Has a Plan for Little Girls

Read your bible
Baby Girl First Bible
Candle Bible for Toddlers
The Children's Bible in 365 Stories


Be still (Journal for the journey)
Wholehearted: A Coloring Book Devotional
Wall Paper Proverbs 31:25

Our victorious King Jesus!

Matt 28:1-7
1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

When the pharisees and many enemies of Christ thought that it was all over, God was working something very powerful!
Our redemption story!

I can imagine the thoughts and emotions the women went through when they saw the angels! and heard the words that Christ was risen! that they would see Him!

What joy that must have felt, what bounding joy and peace and hope!

The guards who were meant to keep the body of Jesus from being stolen came face to face with the angels and were as dead men! Praise our Lord Jesus because nobody can prevent Him from doing a good work in you!

The sabbath may have felt like a dark day, indeed your situation might feel like a deep dark situation, no hope, no joy.

My brother and sister, look to Jesus who did such a wonderful work of redemption on the cross that has brought us salvation.
Let the joy of the Lord fill your hearts especially in the situations you are facing.

Keep looking to Jesus because He is our hope. Indeed He said these words:

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

There will always be trouble because the world is ruled by evil, but we find hope and courage in the Lord Jesus. He has already overcome for us! Amen

Tools you can use
Be still (Journal for the journey)
Read your bible
Wholehearted: A Coloring Book Devotional
Wall Paper Proverbs 31:25
Baby Girl First Bible
Candle Bible for Toddlers
The Children's Bible in 365 Stories

Where is God? Part 2

Matt 27:62-66
62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

On the Saturday after the death of Jesus, He was not physically present. He was very dead! There was no fellowship as before, and it must have felt like one of the most hopeless days for those who had followed Jesus.

The pharisees did not make it any better by claiming that Jesus' disciples might go steal His body. In fact, they got orders to keep the tomb safely guarded.

This could be what you feel today in the situations you are passing through and are consistently wondering why God is not acting or coming through. In fact it may feel like your enemies are working harder to shut out God's goodness from your life.

You probably have friends who are trying to convince you that you are walking in sin like Job's friends did when he was in utter sorrow having lost everything. Some might have probably given up on you.

In this dark time, don't give up. Hold on.
Don't get tired of lifting your head to the hills and turning to God who is our help. Psalm 121 is a good place to encourage yourself from and trust God again.

Ps 27:14
Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Ps 30:5
5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Hold on.

Tools you can use
Be still (Journal for the journey)
Read your bible
Wholehearted: A Coloring Book Devotional
Wall Paper Proverbs 31:25
Baby Girl First Bible
Candle Bible for Toddlers
The Children's Bible in 365 Stories

Where is God? part 1

I was listening to Andrew Peterson's songs (Lord remember me) today and for a moment I wondered what it was like for the disciples of Jesus to watch Him be arrested! Oh my!
Maybe He would do one of His miracles and set Himself free, then it doesn't happen!(Luke 22:47-53)
Oh no, maybe He will do a miracle and be released, instead Barabbas is released! (Luke 23:18-25)
This can't be happening!
Maybe He will vanish before they whip Him and be found elsewhere, but No!!! He is whipped!! (John 19:1)

This is not right! why is Jesus not doing anything? Why is He not calling heavens and showcasing His power.

Then the worst part came and He carried the cross all the way to Golgotha (Luke 23:26), maybe we won't get to the cross. I mean He is God, He should do something, He can't die!!
And then the crucifixion begins and He is nailed to the cross, hanging on the tree nails through His hands and feet, thorns on His head! Body already out of shape from the whipping. (Is 53, Luke 23:33)
The same Jesus who raised Lazarus from the dead is not able to save Himself!!

Is God even real! We followed Him all these years, why did He have to die?

Then something strange happens...Darkness covers the earth during the day for 3 hours from noon till 3pm! Jesus gives up His ghost and dies. (Luke 23:44-46) The curtains at the temple tear into 2 from top to bottom! Men who died in the Lord are seen walking on the streets of Jerusalem. (Matt 27:51-53)

One guard confesses, Surely! He was the son of God!! Maybe being in the moment He was making this confession in fear and trembling literally and in awe of God.  (Matt 27:54)

Interestingly, the bible records some of these:

Peter imagined this and rebuked Jesus!
Matt16:21-23
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Judas couldn't take it....
Matt 27:3-5
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

One of the thieves was angry at Jesus for not pulling the superman act at this critical time...
Luke 23:39
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

How do I pray for my country?

Are you far away from home? Are you at home? Do you sometimes wonder how to go about praying for your nation?

Nehemiah 1 is an interesting passage that shows how Nehemiah's heart got broken when he asked his fellow country men how the city of Jerusalem was doing. The city was in ruin.

Nehemiah served as the king's cup bearer but continued to seek the good of his land back home.

Nehemiah’s Prayer
1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:

In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said:

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’

10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

I was cupbearer to the king.

Asking For the nations

Have you ever failed so much you felt you were at your end? My month of May has been full of surprising failures, then heartbreaking then numb failure then surrender failure.

Just so you understand where I am coming from, I signed up for driving classes and the road was marked with loads of failure. Yes, I failed in driving classes over and over, and paid loads of money, felt frustrated and cried, asked God why He was letting me do this and felt angry at Him for not dealing with such small matters,(you would wonder why I kept failing if it was such a small deal! ha ha now I can laugh), until I surrendered to God and told Him to let His will be in this driving.

God opened my eyes to the selfishness I have being operating at, always asking for me and never for those around me. He then turned my heart to a prayer that I am praying that I want to share with you all.

Psalms 2:8 

Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.

I have started asking for nations, I have started asking for this inheritance of nations for His kingdom, I have stopped making my kingdom (I trust Him to help me here) and I have joined God in getting nations as His inheritance and possession.

Are you struggling and failing in any area of your life? Go to God and partner with Him in His business of making nations His inheritance and kingdoms His possessions. He will deal for you in the areas you are struggling in and are tired of going through the same motions.

God promises this:

Matt 6:33 

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

 

God is just

Hebrews 6:10 

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

Hang in there, wait on God

Psalm 126

A song of ascents.

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of[a] Zion,

    we were like those who dreamed.[b]

2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,

    our tongues with songs of joy.

Then it was said among the nations,

    “The Lord has done great things for them.”

3 The Lord has done great things for us,

    and we are filled with joy.

4 Restore our fortunes,[c] Lord,

    like streams in the Negev.

5 Those who sow with tears

    will reap with songs of joy.

6 Those who go out weeping,

    carrying seed to sow,

will return with songs of joy,

    carrying sheaves with them.

Pray for someone today

Are you praying for anyone? Is it possible that there is someone who needs you to uphold them in prayer so that they are saved from sin and its consequences, from trouble of this world, from getting out of God's will?

The story of Moses is one of a kind that reminds us how important it is to pray for each other that God may hear us and answer our prayers.
In Deut 12 from verse 7-21, Moses reminded the Israelites about their turning away from God and making a golden calf that they set as their god when Moses was gone 40 days and nights to receive the ten commandments from God.

At that time God wanted to destroy the Israelites and make for Moses a new nation to lead to the promised land but Moses prayed for them and 40 days and nights he prayed to God to forgive them and God did. He also prayed for Aaron who had listened to the people and made the golden calf image.

Deut 12:18-19
18 Then once again I fell prostrate before the Lord for forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water, because of all the sin you had committed, doing what was evil in the Lord’s sight and so arousing his anger. 19 I feared the anger and wrath of the Lord, for he was angry enough with you to destroy you. But again the Lord listened to me.

This is a shadow of what Christ did for us on the cross. He not only died in our place but continues to intercede for us before the father with such deep love for us. This is grace. We don't deserve anything He does for us but He still does it with all love.

Isaiah 53:12
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[g]
    and he will divide the spoils with the strong,[h]
because he poured out his life unto death,
    and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors.

Today, make a list of family and friends you would love to pray for. It will cost time, money, compassion. Be involved in their situations and see what God will do for them and in you.

We bless God for His amazing love and grace.

A letter of hope

The book of Joel starts with a vivid description of God's punishment on the Children of Israel for their sins. Draught, desolation, terrible days of pain.

Then a prayer is made to God and in His mercy listens in and remembers them and responds from chapter 2 verses 18 and speaks to them words of hope to heal them and replenish them from their experiences.

I encourage you to read the chapters and find hope again in God and trust in the God of our salvation. God is able to minister to our needs and He is trustworthy.

Let us turn to Him in repentance and humility and faith in whatever situations we are in and wait on Him.

Joel 2:18-19
18 Then the Lord was jealous for his land
    and took pity on his people.

19 The Lord replied[a] to them:

“I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil,
    enough to satisfy you fully;
never again will I make you
    an object of scorn to the nations.

God my shield

Psalms 3:3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,

    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

A prayer from a humble heart

Psalms 51:10-12
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

A verse to help us trust God

Prov 3:5-6
5 5
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 7 666 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.[a]

....And David encouraged himself in the Lord

1 Sam 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

The reality in this verse is that you are the only one who understands the pain you are facing. The same men that were with David out for battle were now speaking of stoning him. The situation had changed because these men had lost everything.

In life people have very many issues that hard press them. The need for us to encourage each other becomes greater every moment. We would have expected for the soldiers to encourage David their leader but tables turn and the men want to take out their frustrations on David.

But.....David encouraged himself in the Lord.

We need to learn this value and become a source of blessing in our tribulations.

1 Sam 30:8 And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

The one way to encourage ourselves is to commune with God and rely on Him. Man will fail you, I will fail you, we are unreliable many times and especially when it inconveniences us yet you need us the most.

But God does not change, He remains the same yesterday today and forever.
 Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Today let us not wait to be encouraged, instead let us arise and enquire of the Lord. Let us go back to others discouraged and encourage them as Christ has encouraged us.

Are you seeking to impact a generation? Here is a verse to encourage you

Deut 6:6-7
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Are you struggling to love someone?

Mark 12:31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’[a] There is no commandment greater than these.

God wants us to love others as a first step instead of over analysing them or criticising them.
The reason is that:
1 Pet 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

When we start at love, we start from God's view and see through His eyes.

Here is a verse to remind us to worship God by resting

Gen 2:1-2
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.

2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Do you struggle with forgiving yourself?

I have a memory that keeps all the wrong records. I can literally bring alive a memory where I wronged someone or I thought I did.

The guilt can be overwhelming and paralysing, it steals our joy and denies us the opportunity to live today and hope for tomorrow.

I read Pastor Simon Mbevi's book on making prayers an adventure and stopped on a certain line. He said that once God forgives us, we should accept this forgiveness". These words rang in my heart and I wondered how many times I had gone before God asking for forgiveness yet I refused to receive it.

We do so by revisiting the sin over and over and allowing the devil to paralyse us into believing there is no way we could have been forgiven.

What exactly happens when we ask God for Forgiveness?

God forgives and forgets
Is 45:25 “I, even I, am he who blots out
    your transgressions, for my own sake,
    and remembers your sins no more.

Imagine trying to find something already blotted.
Imagine a forgotten incident being revived and God closed that chapter.
God forgives us and forgets our sins.

Heb 8:12 For I will forgive their wickedness
    and will remember their sins no more.”[a]

Heb 10:17 Then he adds:
“Their sins and lawless acts
    I will remember no more.”[a]

The prayer we should make is for Him to help us believe when unbelief creeps in.

God has already chosen to forgive us and forget if we repent
Micah 7:18-19
18 Who is a God like you,
    who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
    of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
    but delight to show mercy.
19 You will again have compassion on us;
    you will tread our sins underfoot
    and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

It is God's joy and delight to forgive us. We should always run to Him when we sin and as He forgets, so should we. Our memories might remain but instead of guilt these should remind us of the grace of God in our lives.

God has already invited us to receive freedom and cleansing from sin
Is 1:18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool.

What a great love for us God has that He invites us into His presence in our sinful state. He guarantees the cleansing of our sins.

Faith in us is accepting this mercy and living as He says we are, cleansed from sin.

God addresses our fear of returning to Him when we sin
Is 44:22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
    your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,
    for I have redeemed you.”

When we sin, we naturally tend to hide from man and God. God in His compassionate nature reminds us to return to Him. He has already paid a price for our sins so we should not allow sin to kill us in any aspect.

We are redeemed! Praise Jesus our Lord.

God secures us from the destruction of sin
Is 38:17 Surely it was for my benefit
    that I suffered such anguish.
In your love you kept me
    from the pit of destruction;
you have put all my sins
    behind your back.

Sin destroys us and causes us so much pain. Those near and far are affected by our sins too. That is why we should run to God when we sin and ask for forgiveness.

He loves us so much and is always looking forward to our turning to Him in total surrender and when we do so, He deals with our sins, forgives us and does not remember them anymore.

Let us stop searching for our sins, God has forgiven us
Jer 50:20 In those days, at that time,”
    declares the Lord,
“search will be made for Israel’s guilt,
    but there will be none,
and for the sins of Judah,
    but none will be found,
    for I will forgive the remnant I spare.

Instead of searching for our sins, let us focus on so great a loving God who has done such a marvellous act of forgiving our sins.
Let us boldly worship Him who has cleansed us and taken away our sins.

Prayer
Dear God, many of us believers in the Lord Jesus have been battling with guilt and not accepting the forgiveness that You have assured us when we repent. We ask for forgiveness and Faith to let go of the sin, guilt and shame and live as You have said, a sanctified people.

When the enemy tries to pull us back into guilt, help us to run and hide in the blood of Jesus and allow your word to remind us of the truth that sets us free. Teach us to speak to that voice of guilt in our hearts and minds that "It is written"....

In Jesus name, Amen.

Keep the memories alive, pass them on too

Deut 4:9-10

9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
10 Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.”

Life has so many challenges that wipe out the good memories and those victorious moments we experienced in God.
With time, what felt so real slowly fades away from our hearts and minds. And when tough times come our way, those very powerful testimonies we experienced are gone from us and we respond to the new challenges as people who had not been in a victorious experience with God.

In verse 9, God reminds us to really watch ourselves, to assess our lives and ensure we continue to recount God's powerful acts in our lives.
To take it a step further, God tells us to share these experiences with others. Keep the memories alive, let our children and grand kids hear of God's doing in our lives and find strength to worship when things don't make sense.

God tells us that by keeping these memories alive, we  learn to revere Him. verse 10.
We could easily say with confidence that the Lord did these things we testify of and continually worship Him.
If the memories are allowed to fade, we allow a strong aspect of our worship to God to die slowly. We forget the God "Who was"...in our various situations making it harder to wait and trust in our present situations.

Hab 2:2
2 Then the Lord replied:

“Write down the revelation
    and make it plain on tablets
    so that a herald[b] may run with it.

What memories are fading away? Write them down. Let these be available for many more to catch the vision of God and run with it, Amen.

Keep the memories alive.

What does God say about training a child in the way she/ he should go?

Actively training children from the start
Prov 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go,
    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

From the very start, from inception, we have an opportunity to influence children's direction in life. When God tells us to start children off, He expects us to be faithful to start them off.

When we enroll for any teaching or training programs, we know there will be an expert to start us off. Some programs might require trainers to guide us all through.

Best example is a coach training his team for success. The coach trains the team and points them in the winning direction as he instills certain disciplines in them.

Training children on God's ways
Deut 6:5-9
5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.

7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.

Training children starts with training Parents
Wow a high and first call for me is to love the Lord with my entire being as commanded in verse 5.

Loving the Lord so deeply with every bit of my heart, soul (mind, intentions) and all my strength.
My longings, desires (thoughts), yearnings
My thoughts, intentions
My ounce, effort, focus, attention
All that I am, I should love God.

We allow God to train us as we walk in obedience so that we can train our children.

Verse 6 is a reminder that beyond training from God, we should love God's ways and hide them in our hearts. Totally falling in love with God's ways.
When we love God, we will fall in love with His ways and long for them.

Training children should be a journey, and one of joy despite the challenges
Prov 22:6 reminds us that there is a unique way that every child is designed to follow. This requires time with the children and prayers for parents to know which way their children should go.

Since children have various growth stages, we should adjust to their situations to ensure they have as much opportunity to learn from us what we have learnt from God.
Deut 6:7 then encourages us to impress on our children the beliefs we have learnt from God.
To impress is to affect deeply or strongly in mind or feelings, to influence in opinion.

We have a great task that requires us to partner with God who authors our lives and our children too.

To impress God's ways on our children, God gives us interesting ways to go about the process

• Talk with children when you sit at home
• Take walks and use the opportunity to tell your children more about God
• Take naps or lie down to rest and in that relaxed mode let your children know your convictions in God
• When you get up from whatever activity you were at, even such a moment would be precious for them to know more.

Literally get every chance to direct and train your child in God's ways. Verse 7

God's creative ways to make learning and teaching children more fun and creative
In verse 8-9

• Tie these words as symbols on your hands. When we see we remember faster and we are bound to remember more. What can you use to help your child see and remember?
• Bind these words on your forehead. When something is on your forehead, those near will see and when on the mirror you are bound to see it. you will feel it too and if it means something, you are bound to have a deeper memory.
• Write them on the door frame. Doors are always used and having a memory there would easily be noticed. Other people will come through your doors and they will know what you have imprinted on the hearts of your children and they may remind them when they forget.
• On your gates write these words. Gates are visible to all. Our confidence in Him will help us let the many people know what we believe in. This confidence should be passed on to our children. It is crucial especially when life begins to question their faith.

The task is great but God is greater than the tasks. Let's partner with Him!

Happy and joyful parenting journey.

Encouraging verse, when you are discouraged

1 Thess 5:16-18

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Bible verse

Josh 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”