Wisdom, Success and Criticism

I am not surprised when a successful person is maligned on the Internet or elsewhere. Especially if they call themselves a Christian. People just don't seem to like it when Christians become exceedingly wealthy.

Jesus is the Wisdom of God "but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." 1 Corinthians 1:24. Anyone who makes a lifetime study of the Wisdom of God (and Proverbs is the Wisdom of God: the Wisdom book) would have two things happen in their life:

1. They would become more like Jesus.
2. They would become wealthy with the financial riches of this earth. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the result is prosperity  "With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity." (Proverbs 8:18) " Blessed is the man who fears the Lord..Wealth and riches are in his house..." (Psalms 112:1-3)

Both of the above would attract major criticism from worldly people. If we aspire to be successful in life (more than ordinary success) part of the preparation necessary is the ability to handle criticism or persecution. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life." (Mark 10:29-30). Success attracts persecution. Much of this criticism is likely to come from so-called "believers" but the spirit behind it all is the devil, "the accuser of the brethren" (1 Timothy 4:13).

Rodney Howard Brown once said "you can only become successful to the level of criticism you can handle. I believe that in the Kingdom of God, when a ministry of Finance is being raised up, part of the preparations in the trials and hardships leading to the wealth manifesting, is an inner strengthening so that person would have the ability to handle a degree of criticism that would crush a weaker individual. A truly successful person has an unshakable inner core that gives them the ability to rise above the opinions and criticisms of others.

The Lost Donkeys

I was having tea with a friend the other day and we were talking about a question I had on my mind. I was wondering out loud, why is it that when I am asking an answer from God, He does answer.. but very often it is not the answer I am looking for. Jesus seemed to do the same thing when He walked the earth. He spoke in Parables and sometimes they seemed to be confusing. Almost like a riddle. Where there is an answer inside the answer, where sometimes the answer seems to put one on a different path and a different outcome than what we were expecting.

God always answers the question on our hearts.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

My friend pointed out the story of Saul who went looking for his father’s lost donkeys (Read 1 Samuel Chapter 9). Saul and a servant went searching everywhere and eventually their search brought them to the town where the Prophet Samuel lived. They decided to seek the prophet’s help in locating the donkeys. But God had a different idea. Samuel tells Saul not to worry about the donkeys because they had been found. All Saul could think about was the lost donkeys. But God had a different purpose in mind: God had gone ahead of Saul and told Samuel the Prophet to anoint Saul as King.

Sometimes the thing at the top of our minds is something very lowly when we compare it to what God has in mind for our lives. Stand back from your life. Ask God to show you His thoughts over the situation. The answer to the small things will be there anyway. What we think is a major problem is a very small thing for God to resolve if we focus on what is important to Him.

Giving Christmas Away

Not many things in life are more satisfying than giving to someone anonymously. Giving in this way is its own reward. Giving without any expectation of reward. Except that I do expect a return on the sowing of my seed "to the universe". Somehow the joy I receive just in giving is one part of the reward, yet, I am sure my own experience of Christmas each year is the more blessed because of it.


In South Africa (especially Johannesburg) many people close their businesses early in December and travel to other parts of the country (or the world) to spend Christmas with family. Which is possibly why these "Christmas events" happen during the month of November, whether Christmas parties for children, office Christmas lunches and so on. The rest of the world "does" Christmas only in December. Christmas displays are already everywhere in the shops in South Africa... and we don't mind. Personally I am happy to have Jesus' Christ's name in "Christ"mas displayed everywhere for longer. It's just great that He is remembered by everyone whether they consciously  it or recognise Him or not.

Each year, Acts of Love (click on the name to be directed to their Facebook page) arranges an event for children from local orphanages: a Christmas Fun Day where they are entertained and spoiled and  each child receives a wonderful gift. The gift is in the form of a Christmas Box filled with delights, treasures, perhaps a few practical items (toiletries and/or items for school), clothing, toys, sweets, ornaments, etc. The whole event is extremely well organised and the Acts Church members are invited (for a small fee). Of course the costs for the orphans/underprivileged children is provided/covered by the local congregation. Anyone wishing to provide one (or several) Christmas boxes one gets given a name, age, gender and "suggestion" list of what items to fill the box with. Last year I went shopping prayerfully, as if I knew the girl and found myself gravitating towards certain colour themes in the items bought. I am sure the Holy Spirit directed each purchase to give the girl more joy.

Acts of Love Christmas Box Project

If you would like to get involved, find a similar project in your area. If you live near Midrand, (Johannesburg, South Africa) get in touch with Acts of Love via their Facebook page. Here is a link to the Christmas Event this year: Acts of Love Christmas Fun Day. Or you could get hold of Acts of Love via the Acts of Love website. It is wonderful that although this ministry is linked to the Acts Christian Church the group has had the most amazing response from the local Midrand community of all faiths and cultures - Muslim, Hindu and Christian. It is a wonderful outreach project. In 2010 more than 800 Christmas Boxes were distributed by Acts of Love to children in local orphanages.

Practical Love

Recently our Acts of Love Group started a project to provide teddy’s to the youngest orphans as part of our Christmas in a Box program. Last year Acts of Love distributed Christmas Box gifts to over 800 orphans in the Midrand area. If you want to become involved with this particular project you can find the details on Facebook here: Acts of Love. I was motivated to knit a Teddy for this project when I heard it reported that on a recent visit to a particular orphanage, one of the Acts of Love co-ordinators described how a 3 year old girl in the orphanage picked up a brick off the ground and crooned to it, playing with the brick as if it were a doll. Heartbreaking. So a few of us felt inspired to knit at least one (more for the more productive knitters) teddy for a needy child.

Trauma Teddy will give a little one so much love!

Trauma Teddy Pattern

This pattern has been adapted from a pattern designed to distribute to child trauma victims. Teddies can be made in a variety of styles. The pattern describes a teddy with pants and a shirt, but the pattern can be varied. The important thing is that the teddy has a personality of its own! 

Double ply wool. (No mohair or angora).

Needles: No 9 (3.75 mm) or no 10 (3.25mm) needles. (Loose knitters use No 10) 

Legs and Pants
Leg 1
• Cast on 12 stitches
• Knit 24 rows
• Change colour for pants
• Knit 8 rows
• Leave stitches on needle
  
Leg 2
• Same as Leg 1

Pants
• Join both legs by knitting across both legs
• Knit 14 rows to finish pants

Shirt
• Change colour for shirt
• Knit 12 rows

Sleeve
• Cast on 12 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows
• Knit 18 rows
• Next 2 rows cast off 12 stitches (this forms the arms, 24 stitches remain)

Head
• Knit 34 rows. Cast off.


Hands
• Using same colour as for face and leg, cast on 10 stitches, knit 10 rows, cast off (x2)

Repeat this procedure to obtain the other side of the Trauma Teddy
(I did fewer rows, I made the legs shorter. Fine as long as both sides match)

Finishing
• Sew on face.
• Join up leaving a gap at top of the head for filling.
• Fill with filling.
• Sew top of head together.
• Gather around the base of head to form neck.

• Pinch corners of head and sew to form ears.

His Name is Wonderful

He replied "Why do you ask my name, seeing as it is Wonderful?" Judges 13:18 This is an Epiphany, an appearance of Christ in the Old Testament.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

His name is Wonderful. His name is Jesus. So when I say to someone "May you have a Wonderful day" I am actually bringing Jesus into their lives that day. Have a Jesus-filled day! Because HIS Name is WONDERFUL.

Miracles and wonders

Wikipedia says "A miracle is an event attributed to divine intervention." Well, I have had a series of "miracles" in the past 24 hours that caused the impossible to be possible in more than one area of my life - business, financial, social, and practical. If one of these had happened it might have been said by some to have been a coincidence. But for the combination of events and circumstances to unfold the way they did, this could not have been done by any person. God was most definitely involved and I am grateful. And glad. Especially as one of these miracles means I can take up a holiday which I won earlier this year at an Exclusive Game Lodge bordering the Kruger National Park.

I am happy that once again, God proves to be Who He says he is. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. Psalm 105:2

50 Good Years

Today I am thinking of my parents, Robert and Yvonne Pole who have been married 50 years today. A remarkable milestone in the era in which we live. Few people make it for one or another reason. Very often because they just cannot get along. My parents are still each other's best friends and such a wonderful example of what a great marriage should be. Always speaking good about and to each other. Always prayerful. Always hopeful. Never criticising. One piece of advice from my Dad I will always remember is "Never criticise, condemn or complain". He said he got this from a Dale Carnegie Course he once did. My mother's advice to me: "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all". Wow.

My father still spends hours in his home gym (he has always loved to exercise). He says that is when he talks to God. My mother spends hours tending her garden. And they both love to watch the birds, dozens of them come to feed at the bird feeder in their garden daily, and quite often I get a text message from Mom to tell me the woolly headed herons are once again in their garden. Sweet.

I know that Mom bombards heaven with her prayers every morning for a couple of hours. She once showed me a creased and torn prayer list which she'd prayed over for the previous 10 years. She pointed out 57 names on there that she was praying for, for financial release.She said that of those names, only 5 were still waiting for answers. There were other names there for other needs. Many of those prayers have been answered yet she continues to remember their names before heaven. Some of these people will never know that my Mom prayed for them, daily, for decades They are friends of friends of mine who live in other countries.

What a heritage I have. I feel so moved today just thinking about it. Joy and happiness to you, Mom and Dad! May the Goodness of God continue to be your portion. And many more years of happiness here and in heaven one day.

Seed for the Sower

"White Lightning" Iris

He who sows generously that blessings may come to someone will also reap generously and with blessings. And God Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your resources for sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity. Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and your generosity as it is administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:6b,10,11)

How do we know when that which we have in our hand is seed, and when is it bread for our provision (since God provides seed for the sower AND bread for eating)?

If what is in your hand is sufficient for your need then that is what it is for. If what is in your hand is not enough to meet your need... it is seed! This is radical thinking but I have found it works. Every time.

Windows of Hope

The Beach at Torremolino - Edward Seago (painting available for sale from The Taylor Gallery in London)

Edward Seago (1910-1974) was one of England’s finest landscape artists of the 20th Century. His ability to portray magnificent clouds in endless variations of atmosphere and color was one of the hallmarks of Seago's finest masterpieces.

“Ill health caused Seago to spend much of his childhood in bed and he grew to accept these bouts of sickness as an ordinary event. However, they were probably the main factor in moulding his life. The heart defect which denied him ordinary boyhood activities, and kept him on his back for long periods, meant that he had to overcome boredom, and this he did by painting. Also, unlike other boys of his own age who were confined to a schoolroom, Seago was able to stay out of doors exposed to the delights of the ever changing skies above him. These skies provided him with a constant source of interest and challenge. The intense knowledge gained as he sketched the unending cloud formations of Norfolk, England from his garden chair made him a true artist. What had begun as a childhood diversion ended as a life’s work. It is possible, that had he not had a permanent heart problem, Seago might never have become an artist, but might have turned to a more active, strenuous profession.” (Quote from the book ‘Edward Seago: The Vintage Years’ by Ron Ranson).

This idea is repeated in Hosea 2:14-15 “I will make the Valley of Achor or Troubling to be for her a door of hope and expectation”. Mike Murdock says it this way:

• The problem closest to you is your door out of trouble
• Something you already have can create anything else you will ever want
• Something in your hand can create anything you want in your future.

Nothing can take God by surprise. He has surveyed our entire life and the preparations are complete. When He instructed Moses to take His people out of Israel, he said to Moses “What is in your hand”. The seed for a thing is in itself. (Genesis 1:11). God has already provided every resource we need to fulfil our purpose and destiny. Every provision has been made for the appointed task. We just need to reach out and access it. Just as Edward Seago did. He painted. His paintings are considered investment art and reach extremely high prices to this day, decades after he has passed on.

Prosperity

This verse hit me like a ton of bricks recently.

Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers 3 John 1:2 (King James 2000 Bible)

If we have a problem in the area of the soul (mind/will/emotions) for example an area of emotional distress or hurt that is unresolved and unhealed, this will have a direct effect on our financial prosperity. It could also affect our health. Research has been done on psycho-sematic illnesses so it is documented how our physical body can manifest a lack of prosperity in our souls. But it works for our money too. I remember watching a Television program where a homeless person was "given" $100,000 and "followed" by the TV crew. Within just over a year that homeless person was back on the streets in a worse-off financial condition than previously (and with additional debt). It all came back to the lack of healing in this person's "soul" area especially over money issues. There have been stories done on lotto winners too often with similar results.

I have read that verse for years over and over, and even memorised it. But this week a light went on. It is vital to ensure we are healed of emotional scars in the Light of God. Unless we have dealt with emotional pain and received emotional healing for issues around finances, we do not have the mental and emotional resources required to retain large wealth.

 Our financial health depends on it.

Tickled Pink

The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven

No other book on heaven impacted my life as much as this one. I finished reading it in 2 days this past week. What I loved the most is the tangible presence of God in the room whilst reading it also Alex's relationship with God and the fact he has such a continual link with heaven, angels and God that is available to us all...by faith. And I really got the sense of time - present, past and future - being an earthly dimension and that heaven is right HERE, right NOW and we can all experience it if we only believe. Living each moment in the light of eternity.

Here is the publisher's description of the book:

In 2004, Kevin Malarkey and his six-year-old son, Alex, suffered an horrific car accident. The impact from the crash paralyzed Alex-and medically speaking, it was unlikely that he could survive. "I think Alex has gone to be with Jesus," a friend told the stricken dad. But two months later, Alex awoke from a coma with an incredible story to share. Of events at the accident scene and in the hospital while he was unconscious. Of the angels that took him through the gates of heaven itself. Of the unearthly music that sounded just terrible to a six-year-old. And, most amazing of all . . . Of meeting and talking to Jesus. The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven is the true story of an ordinary boy's most extraordinary journey. As you see heaven and earth through Alex's eyes, you'll come away with new insights on miracles, life beyond this world, and the power of a father's love.

If you haven't already read it, buy a copy this week - and a spare one for a friend, it is definitely the kind of book you want to pass on.

Unrelenting Disappointment

Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life. (TAB)

In The Message Bible the same verse is translated:

Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, 

but a sudden good break can turn life around.

I guess I am still waiting. That is all I have to say today.

Planning for Success

Call unto me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know – do not distinguish and recognise, have knowledge of and understand. Jeremiah 33:3

I have not spoken in secret, in a corner of the land of darkness; I did not call [you] to a fruitless service saying, Seek Me for nothing but promised a just reward. I the Lord speak righteousness-the truth [trustworthy, straight forward correspondence between deeds and words], I declare the things that are right.

God will always give us the exact right answer and plan of action if we seek Him. God’s plans for our lives are already blessed.

Roll your works upon the Lord-commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will and so shall your plans be established and succeed. Proverb 16:4

No Future Without Forgiveness

Archbishop Desmond Tutu gestures after receiving the Jamnalal Baja International Award in Cape Town, June 25, 2001.  The award, named after a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, recognises the promotion of Gandhian values outside India. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings --- Image by © Reuters/CORBIS

It is Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s 80th birthday today, an event which has been widely publicised in local press this week. This is a man who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his role in changing the landscape of South Africa and standing boldly against the Apartheid system in the face of great opposition. In the New South Africa he led the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (April 1996 - June 1998) which at the time brought great healing to many hearts.

What impresses me most about his life is that he is known to be a Man of Prayer, punctuating his daily life with hours of private (personal) and corporate prayer.

In his book “No Future Without Forgiveness” (©1999), the Archbishop says “We happened to have been blessed with leaders who were ready to take risks – when you embark on the business of asking for and giving forgiveness, you are taking a risk. If you ask another person for forgiveness you may be spurned; the one you have injured may refuse to forgive you. The risk is even greater if you are the injured party, wanting to offer forgiveness. The culprit may be arrogant, obdurate or blind; not ready or willing to apologise or ask for forgiveness in their turn. He or she thus cannot receive the forgiveness they are offered. Such rejection can jeopardise the whole enterprise. Our leaders were ready in South Africa to say they were willing to walk the path of confession, forgiveness and reconciliation with all the hazards that lay along the way. And it seems their gamble might be paying off since our land has not been overwhelmed by the catastrophe that had seemed so inevitable.”

When he received news that he had prostrate cancer, journalists asked him if he was worried now that he had a terminal disease. He said, “We are all living with a terminal disease. It is called life.”

He also said, “when you have a potentially terminal disease this gives new intensity to live”. By allowing the mind to focus on the important things in life you are able to live your remaining life to the fullest. You spend time with the things that matter to you - love of family, sounds of music, and the beauty of nature, God’s own creation.

A remarkable man. An amazing life.

Heavenly Language

The greatest gift I have in my life is the ability to pray in tongues. It is the most incredible and wonderful thing that we have Help when we have no idea how to pray or even (sometimes) what to pray. Apostle Paul boasted that he spoke in tongues more than anyone (1 Corinthians 14:18).

I love my heavenly language. I experience through it exactly what the Bible says about it. I get insight into secret truths and hidden things not obvious to the understanding (1 Cor 14:2) and interpretation of the divine will and purpose over areas in my life. By spending time daily, praying in tongues, I find that God moves the wrong people and situations out of my life and path and instead moves the right people and situations into my life. He also fixes wrong attitudes in my heart. And brings clarity into confusing situations.

An amazing gift. Free and available to everyone. I am astonished when people don’t tap into it and use it. And when people use it sparingly like a quick shower. What a waste of an incredible resource. Do yourself a favour: if you would like to a comprehensive insight into this gift, Dave Roberson wrote an amazing book on the subject. It will transform your life in extraordinary ways. You can download it free in PDF form here: "Walk of the Spirit Walk of Power".

Extravagant Giving

A number of years ago a friend of mine, at that time a school teacher earning a very low salary, told me she had just been through a period of several months where many of the people in the community (staff, students, parents and others) had approached her constantly for cash loans or gifts. The needs were great, and she had recently given half her monthly salary to  help someone to pay for a funeral. She had begun to struggle financially as a result and was feeling "used". And resentful. And then God challenged her with Luke 6:30 where it says Give away to everyone who begs of you who is in want of necessities, and of him who takes away from you your goods, do not demand or require them back again.

She said, Well God, I will do as you say but then I need you to keep me in the black and not allow me to go into the red in my bank account. Something changed. From that moment the "asks" dropped off dramatically and she knew that the ones who did ask were somehow sent to her by God. And her bank account never looked better.

This week God highlighted another similar verse which appears later on in the same chapter - Luke 6:38 Give, and gifts will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into the pouch formed by the bosom of your robe and used as a bag.

Well, soon after being reminded of this verse I went into a supermarket with only a little cash on me. A well-dressed man approached me and said he had just got out of prison. He was asking me for money. To my shame, although I have always thought of myself as a generous, giving person, I did not give that man the last of my cash. I said I can't help you. I felt dreadful within minutes after the lost opportunity to be a blessing to someone in need. May God forgive my stinginess and give me another opportunity to be generous.

In the past, I have always found God is so generous, and when I do give away my last cent (or bank notes) I am always abundant and overflowing in blessings soon after. I remember hearing a testimony once of a wealthy businessman who said, before he "made it" in business, he often gave away the last of his cash to someone in need and had to walk hours home after a meeting instead of catching the tube or train since he'd given away the money he would have spent on the tube (he lived in London). At the time (years later) of giving this testimony the man owned a major international corporation that brought him a personal income of £25 million per year. I have no doubt that Mark 4:25 is true. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.

God rewards our generosity to those in need and pays us back with interest at a level way beyond our giving. I need a bit more practice it seems. At living generously.

The Thunderings of God

There is something about thundering that brings life. Yesterday I quoted from Psalm 29 where the whole psalm is talking about thunder and the voice of God thundering then, in verse 9 it says “the voice of the Lord makes the hinds to bring forth their young”.

Then in Ezekiel 37:7-10 “thundering” brings life and healing to dead bones..

So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a thundering noise, and behold, a shaking and trembling and rattling and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I beheld, and lo, there were sinews upon the bones, and flesh came upon them, and skin covered them over; but there was no breath or spirit in them, Then said He to me, Prophesy to the breath and spirit, son of man, and say to the breath and spirit, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds O breath and spirit, and breath upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath and spirit came into the bones, and they lived and stood up upon their feet, an exceedingly great host.

Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand? Job 26:14

The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. 2 Samuel 22:14

The Lord also thundered from the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice, amid hailstones and coals of fire. Psalm 18:12-14

The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind, the lightnings illumined the world; the earth trembled and shook. Psalm 77:17-19

You called in distress and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder. Psalm 81:6

The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. John 12:29

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Revelation 4:5

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. Revelation 6:1

And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps. Revelation 14:2

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Revelation 19:6

Glory and Strength

Over the last few days we have had the first thunderstorms heralding the beginning of Summer in Johannesburg. The kind of African thunderstorm you have to actually experience to understand. A friend of mine when she first moved out to South Africa from England a number of years ago said that after living most of her life in England (with soft, soaking, constant rains most of the year), she was absolutely shocked and thought the world was about to end the first time it rained here. Rain here very often is accompanied by thunder and lightning. More people die in South Africa being struck by lightning than any other country which just shows the level of violence and drama in these storms. As children we were always warned to move away from trees and preferably be indoors when there is a storm. The local Golf Courses have a warning siren at the first indication of lightning so the golfers will know to move out of danger.

There is something special about thunderstorms. I love that we have such dramatic ones here in Africa. It makes me think about the Voice of God “thundering”.

The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is upon many great waters.

The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; yes the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon...

The voice of the Lord splits and flashes forth forked lightning.

The voice of the lord makes the wilderness tremble; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord makes the hinds to bring forth their young, and it strips bare the forests, while in His temple every one is saying, Glory!

The Lord sat as King over the deluge, the Lord still sits as King and forever!

The Lord will give unyielding and impenetrable strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. Psalms 29 TAB

Sing Your Hearts Out to God!

There is an amazing truth in the Kingdom of God relating to singing over barren areas in our lives.

Sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. Col 3:15

I heard a story once of a group of women who’d been unable to have children, who got a hold of Isaiah 54 and took it to heart.

Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby. Fill the air with song, you who've never experienced childbirth! You're ending up with far more children than all those childbearing women." God says so! Isaiah 54:1

For a year, 9 or 10 woman met every week, and sang together (worshiped God) for an hour. By the end of that year, every one of them, who had previously struggled to conceive, was pregnant. Barrenness was broken over their lives.

When I was 21 I ended in hospital for a series of serious eye operations over a period of 3-6 months. I was told that should I refuse the operations I would most certainly go blind. The ophthalmic surgeon warned me to anticipate going into deep depression over the next few months. He was quite insightful. He said, the eyes are the window to the soul so when we operate on the eyes the soul becomes hurt and depressed. I found this quite interesting, and he was right, that “Eye Ward” in Bloemfontein National Hospital was the most depressing atmosphere I’d ever walked into. The place was dark, a heavy cloud of depression hung over it and I could sense a deep despair over the other patients there. However, I knew from Isaiah 61:3 that we need to “put on the garment of praise and the spirit of heaviness will flee” from us. So I did. I was in a private Ward and I had the music player next to me with praise and worship songs playing all day. I would sing, and sing, and sing and sing. The nurses would come and stand at the door to listen to me! I never got depressed once. The Specialist actually asked me to please help the other patients to get some of what I had. The operations were a success beyond their expectations (to this day I have not had repercussions) and my eyes healed after these operations in half the anticipated time.

All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God! Thank him to his face! He gets angry once in a while, but across a lifetime there is only love. The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter. Psalms 30:4

Daughters of Zion, sing your hearts out: God has done it all, has set everything right. Psalms 97:7b 

Geographic Transitions

I believe it is important for us to recognise not only the times and seasons in our lives (and opportunities) but also the places. There is definitely a purpose for us in the sense of being at the right place at the right time geographically.

And He made from one common origin, one source, one blood all nations of men to settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined their allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation (their settlements, lands, and abodes), So that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each one of us. Acts 17:26-27 (TAB)

Abraham followed this principle.

Urged on by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go. Hebrews 11:8 (TAB)

At one time I became aware of a change of location coming up in my life. I was living in Cape Town and the wind blew literally for 6 weeks nonstop. The wind was so strong that some days it felt one had to hold onto a lamp post to prevent being blown away. People who came down for their summer holidays at that time complained bitterly because they could not have "beach days", the sand would just blow into their eyes and made everything most unpleasant. But to me it felt like a "wind of change". At the time I asked a friend to pray for me and I knew God would give him a "Word" for me. When the "Word" came, it was a confirmation of something I already knew in my heart. I knew that I had to move cities, from Cape Town to Johannesburg. So I bought a one way ticket. Within a few weeks of moving, I found myself in a completely new field, and success in that field was instantaneous. Many things changed which confirmed that I was in exactly the right place at the right time.

This is so important because where we live affects so much in our lives. Who we will meet. Opportunities for success in the fulfilment of our destiny. And enjoyment of the present moment.

“You will go out with joy and be led forth with peace” (Isaiah 55:12). I know I am in the right place at the right time when the Peace of God rules like an umpire in my heart.

Waiting

Waiting...

There are some things in my life I feel I have been waiting forever for. And sometimes I think, maybe this will never happen. On days like this I take courage from this passage in Isaiah 30:18-23

But God's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you.
He's gathering strength to show mercy to you.
God takes the time to do everything right—everything.
Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.

Oh yes, people of Zion, citizens of Jerusalem, your time of tears is over. Cry for help and you'll find it's grace and more grace. The moment he hears, he'll answer. Just as the Master kept you alive during the hard times, he'll keep your teacher alive and present among you. Your teacher will be right there, local and on the job, urging you on whenever you wander left or right: "This is the right road. Walk down this road." ...

God will provide rain for the seeds you sow. The grain that grows will be abundant. Your cattle will range far and wide. Oblivious to war and earthquake, the oxen and donkeys you use for hauling and plowing will be fed well near running brooks that flow freely from mountains and hills. Better yet, on the Day God heals his people of the wounds and bruises from the time of punishment, moonlight will flare into sunlight, and sunlight, like a whole week of sunshine at once, will flood the land.

Waiting produces great fruit in our lives. Patience. Kindness. Compassion. There is nothing a person can do to speed things up. The best thing we can do is to relinquish every way we would try to force God’s hand to produce the answer, and just rest in Him. He will do it in His time. And Eternity is time enough.

New Beginnings

I love this time of the year. Whilst I know my friends and family in the Northern Hemisphere are going into autumn and experiencing the first hints of a winter chill, we have Spring in September where I am. Heady Jasmine fragrance fills the air, and there are new flowers and buds everywhere.

It always reminds me of romance, and that wonderful verse in Song of Songs: 

Look around you: Winter is over;
the winter rains are over, gone!
Spring flowers are in blossom all over.
The whole world's a choir—and singing!
Spring warblers are filling the forest
with sweet arpeggios.
Lilacs are exuberantly purple and perfumed,
and cherry trees fragrant with blossoms. (Song of Songs 2:11-13)MB

New beginnings. Fresh oil. Fresh anointing, blessings, joy, new life, flowers and buds, bliss, rejuvenation, re-awakening, revival, renewal, energise, invigorate, excitement, refreshing.

Which leads my thoughts to one of the most powerful sentences in the Book of Acts, spoken by Peter:

So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return to God, that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19 TAB.

We need this. New beginnings. Yes we do!

Moving mountains

Cathedral Peak mountain range, Drakensberg, South Africa

Yesterday someone gave me a scripture linked to a prophetic word which made me research deeper into what God’s Word says about removing obstacles from our path. It could be that you need a financial or business breakthrough, or a healing, or a relationship issue resolved. All of these things can seem to be like a mountain, or like a solid metal gate that we cannot pass through. But God! My faith is strengthened and built up by meditating on these verses:

And He said, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake 1 Kings 19:11

Is not My word like fire that consumes all that cannot endure the test? says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks in pieces the rock of most stubborn resistance? Jeremiah 23:27

I will go before you and level the mountains to make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut asunder the bars of iron. And I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, Who calls you by your name. Isaiah 45:2-3

For He has broken the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron apart. Psalm 107:16

Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him. Mark 11:23

You cannot actually meditate on a verse if you don’t memorise it. The secret is to memorise it, and then to speak it out, often, during the day. Once memorized, you don’t need a piece of paper or Bible to help you. You can pull that verse back into your mind anytime you want to. In Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 2:8 God says we should meditate on His Word day and night. That word meditate from the original Hebrew means to utter, mutter, speak, moan, imagine, muse, roar, growl, groan. This is Biblical meditation. What I love is it is something real and tangible and practical that I can DO.

There is an amazing story of Simon the Tanner who moved the Mokattam Mountain in Cairo Egypt some time between 972AD and 975AD recorded here in Wikipedia.

Nothing is impossible to those who believe. So let’s move the mountains! Do it.

Thoughts Create Things

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Wisdom rests silently in the mind and heart of him who has understanding, but that which is in the inward part of self-confident fools is made known. He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls. (Proverbs 23:7 Proverbs 16:32 Proverbs 14:33 Proverbs 25:28) 

The direction of our lives can be determined depending on our thoughts. If you are in turmoil, and your mind is agitated, confused or distracted, you cannot control your circumstances. You cannot do it if you don’t control your heart and mind. Whatever you think in your mind, it will happen in heaven, so it could well be a matter of life or death for us to control our mind, taking every thought captive. The power of life and death are in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21) and what we focus on and spend time dwelling on in our thoughts will eventually manifest in our words and and in the circumstances of our lives.. If we create a positive atmosphere around us, with positive thoughts, mind and heart, we will attract beauty into our lives, and good and beautiful things will start to happen.

Radical Prayer

There is a secret in life that if we are able to do it, will unlock treasure in our lives. I have a friend who manages to put in many hours of training for triathlons beyond a normal working day. If we have a desire to achieve greatness in some area, we will set aside the time, energy and training required to make it a reality. I know that it is possible. I have not stopped thinking about this since I first read this testimony from Jaeson Ma on Prayer~

From Jaeson's website:

In November of last year I spoke at one of the largest churches in the world in South Korea. After I had spoken my first session from the pulpit, the Sr. Pastor rebuked me personally by saying, “Young man you don’t pray enough!” I was convicted when hearing this, although I do pray 1-2 hours a day, I knew the Sr. Pastor was challenging me to go beyond my norm. He then said, “If you pray 1 hour a day you can survive. 2 hours a day you can have a ministry. 6 hours a day God can use you to change a country. 8 hours a day and God can use to shake the nations!” After he said this, he made me promise him I would pray 6 hours a day when I returned back home to America. I did my best, but to no avail. I’ll be honest I haven’t been praying 6 hours a day since that challenge from the Sr. Pastor Yoon.

A few weeks after I returned from South Korea with this personal challenge to pray 6-8 hours a day I had a prophetic dream. In the dream the same Sr. Pastor walks up to me. He says to me, “Young man do you know the key to how I started this great church and ministry? The key is that I actually have a full time day job. I work 8 hours a day at another occupation while leading this great ministry.” I said, “How is it possible that you can work at another occupation 8 hours a day and still run this incredible ministry?” What is your occupation? Pastor Yoon then said to me, “My day time occupation is that I am a farmer. I sow and plant seeds 8 hours a day!” The dream ends.

When I woke up from this dream I knew the clear meaning and interpretation. This Sr. Pastor’s key to having such a great church and fruitful ministry was that he sowed seeds of prayer 8 hours a day. The occupation and priority of prayer was his ministry and the key to his success in obeying God by living a dedicated and disciplined lifestyle of radical prayer. Again, I was convicted about this and begin to ask the Holy Spirit to confirm my path to a disciplined life of 8 hours of prayer a day.

Amazing Provision

I lived in Cape Town for a season. During this time I shared a house with a friend, Belinda. Every week, on a Friday, she would invite people from the local community to a stunning meal which she would prepare with grace and imagination. Belinda is an amazing cook, and she always managed to turn each meal into a festive celebration of life. But this particular week, the money had run out. Literally. I said to her, ok, let’s trust God. I know that when you pray, you need to be very specific in your requests. So we prayed according to Mark 11:23 ..whatever you ask for in prayer, believe – trust and be confident – that it is granted to you, and you will get it. We asked for provision for a stunning roast chicken and vegetables home cooked meal. In faith, we actually invited all the guests and told them to be there at 6pm on Friday for dinner.

It had been raining heavily for at least 3 days, but on the Thursday, I walked out to the postbox at the gate, and found a thick sodden envelope posted to me by my sister in England. Inside the envelope were six soggy R100 notes (about $100 at the time)! Enough to create the most spectacular meal for our Friday night celebration meal. The envelope must have been sitting in the post box for 3 days, it was so wet. My sister had said she didn’t get to change her currency at the airport so posted it to me. Well, frankly, it was a miracle the envelope wasn’t stolen on the way (which happens 99% of the time). But it reminded me of the verse “Before you called, I answered” because the answer to our prayer was already on its way at the time we prayed. This is that verse in the New Living Translation: I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! Isaiah 65:24. 

Amazing.

Despair and hope

Knysna Waterfront, South Africa

At one time I found myself in a place of darkness and deep despair. I had lost everything. The circumstances were such that I had actually PUT myself there, but everything I’d done I really thought was under the direction and leading of the Lord. I’d sold my car, wound down a business I’d been running (although not completely), I’d moved cities, believing a new opportunity was on the horizon. And then I hit a wall. Everything I’d believed would transpire, fell apart. Nothing turned out as I expected. I found myself feeling destitute, unsure of where to live, and what to do. And I’d completely lost the confidence I once had firstly in actually hearing God, and secondly in my abilities to achieve anything at all in life. 

Around that time, I received a phone call completely out of the blue from an old friend whom I hadn’t seen or spoken to for at least 10 years. He said, I heard what happened. But the night before, God had given him a dream about me. And a scripture. He said, God says, where you are right now is EXACTLY the place He wants you to be. There is no mistake. And the verse was Isaiah 46:11 “Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man Cyrus who executes my counsel from a far country. Yes, I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed it, and I will do it.” 

I knew this verse meant that all the promises God had given me previously would still materialize. Cyrus was the Babylonian king who provided all the Gold to God’s people for the rebuilding of the Temple when they were released from exile. For me, this translated into a promise for my own life from God that HE would provide everything I need to fulfil the purposes and promises He has given and destined for my life, and that He could do that in unexpected ways and from unexpected sources. It was a dramatic moment of great encouragement, and strengthened me for the journey at the time.