Kings, Queens

Hey there,
Little did I know that my greeting for my previous entry would be the the title for today's post.

So lately I've been in love with poetry and I found a beautiful insightful poem from a beautiful young lady titled: Kings & Queens

 

Christ, the solid Rock

“The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” Matthew 7:25-26 

On Christ, 

the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground 

is sinking sand. 
- Mote’s Hymns of Praise

Daughter of the village

Felicia Mabuza-Suttle quoted an ancient African proverb, "It takes a village to raise an African child," as she let a little girl sleep on her shoulder on the aeroplane for the entire flight. My mother has always told me to treat all adults with a sincere respect, as if they were my own parents. This common African sense of family within a community is still a very relevant concept in some pockets of our modern world even after many generations.

I consider myself that African child that has been raised by the village. My life is not only a product of my parent’s excellent upbringing but also a combined effort of many who have raised me to become a woman. My victories have been a direct result of the lessons that the villagers have taught me. My family, my friends, my acquaintances it has been your love, your prayers, your guidance, your words of correction; it has been you, yes you that have contributed to the person that I am today. It has been your success stories that have given me a new hope and courage. Many have treated me with such kindness, almost as if I were their very own blood. And for that I'm grateful. I continue to be trained in the school of life and look forward to learning everyday with guidance from God.

I celebrate the breath of life that God gave me 27 years ago on the 9th of September. I'm joyful, humbled and honoured that I've been afforded the privilege to live THIS life in particular with such people, in this country, in this village.

He's Able

Psalm 138

Thanksgiving to God

LORD, I thank you with all of my heart;

because you heard the words that I spoke,

I will sing your praise before the heavenly beings.

I will bow down in worship toward your holy Temple

and give thanks to your name for your gracious love and truth,

for you have done great things

to carry out your word

consistent with your name.

When I called out, you answered me;

you strengthened me.

LORD, all the kings of the earth will give you thanks,

for they have heard what you have spoken.

They will sing about the ways of the LORD,

for great is the glory of the LORD!

Though the LORD is highly exalted,

yet he pays attention to those who are lowly regarded,

but he is aware of the arrogant from afar.

Though I walk straight into trouble,

you preserve my life,

stretching out your hand

to fight the vehemence of my enemies,

and your right hand delivers me.

The LORD will complete what his purpose is for me.

LORD, your gracious love is eternal;

do not abandon your personal work in me.

Precious stones

Hi all, I hope you're all keeping well on this Friday the 23rd of August 2013. I am just astonished at where the year has disappeared. This year feels like it’s flying by so quickly. In just a few weeks it’ll be my birthday again on the 9^th day of the ninth month. I’ve been reflecting about my past experiences in all my 27 years on this earth. All have made an impact on the person that I am today, the good and the bad.

Often times when we go through turmoil and trials in life it feels like everyone can see through our issues and they’re are exposed for the world to see. We allow what we know is going on in our lives determine our value and worth in society.  Because we have placed this very low value on ourselves people around us in turn will treat us like how we see ourselves. At that point we then draw up the assumption that we are not precious at all and can add no value to anybody or anything.

I’m grateful that when I received the Lord all these misconceptions were properly dealt with by the word of God. The word of God says that you are fearfully and wonderfully made no matter where you come from, it says that Gods precious thoughts about you are so many you can’t count them, they outnumber the grains of sand. He mentions this in Psalm 139. Read the whole chapter and see how God feels about you because his opinion of you counts way more than anyone else’s.

Next time you feel like the scum of the earth remember that you are valuable like precious stones to the Lord. According to the word, He has loved us with an everlasting love in Jeremiah 31:3. I can’t completely comprehend how vast an everlasting love is but it sounds, amazing.

Pray more, worry less

Thankful heart

Hello friends,

It's been forever and a day since I've posted a blog entry. I've got so many things I want to post about. So much has happened in my life since my last entry and I'd like to share my experiences with you. Since then I got braces and I've started studying which is probably the main reason why I haven't had time to post or do pretty much anything. I barley spend time with my friends and family or anybody else really besides my text books but it's a very new, challenging and enriching journey that I'll share with you some other time though cause right now I just want to right about how I'm blown away by how gracious our God is.

So many people suffer from stress or stress related illnesses. Some have challenges in their body and suffer afflictions of all kind of excruciating pains. Many in today’s modern society have abnormal disorders that vary. Some people are slaves to depression and other chemical imbalances in their bodies. In some countries civilians fear for their lives on a daily basis. Others are in a constant fight with poverty, lack and injustice. The list is endless really. There are many who long for freedom, in their minds, in their hearts, forgiveness, liberation, and restoration. People are dealing with issues that haunt them even in their sleep making it difficult for them to even close their eyes at night.

So I’m just here taken aback at how faithful God has been to me. When I wake up I see the sunshine and I see beautiful trees that adorn my neighborhood. The sky is blue and everything that was supposed to get me down just seems so insignificant because God just magnifies Himself in my situations and everything seems to be okay and I’m filled with joy and peace in my mind, and I can laugh without pretending till my stomach hurts.

It’s really the grace and mercy of God that allows us to have sane lives in a world of calamity like ours, no matter how difficult our adversities may be God has ensured our victory. There’s a scripture I quote to myself when I feel like giving in sometimes.

For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.

- Deuteronomy 20:4

Don’t sweat the small stuff; God is greater than it all. He is willing and able to deliver us His children from all afflictions: mind, body, spirit; believe it!

I hope I get the time to post as frequently as I wish. I've missed blogging. Keep well.

Humility

Hey all, it’s been long. I keep finding my strength in the word of God, I’m approaching the end of my working year and have been working early mornings and late nights, I’ve had little time to rest let alone blog but it’ll all be worth it when it’s all done.

I’ve had a constant thought that’s been pulling at the strings of my heart recently, a constant reminder to me. I’ve felt the urge to continually place my dependence on God, even when I pray to keep placing my utter and complete dependence on God. When I have done that I’ve seen God move miraculously in my life.

Today’s society promotes self-glorification, vanity, pride and such whereas the word teaches differently. Paul helps us understand the attitude that we should adopt.

Philippians 3:1-10

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 2:5-11

 The book of Philippians teaches a lot about humility, using our Lord as a case study, he set the ultimate example.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Mourning

Hi all, I've been away for a while and I've missed blogging.
I've been mourning, today I went to burry my love and it still hasn't hit me that she is no longer on this earth as I know it. I find comfort in the following verses:

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

- Revelation 21:4

He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.

- Isaiah 25:8

and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

- Isaiah 35:10 

Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.

- Isaiah 60:20 

I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.

- Isaiah 65:19

Jesus > Religion

A song from my youth

A song from my youth resides in my heart more than ever before; maybe it's the memories it brings to mind. Memories of a small village in the Eastern Cape - Emaqhinebeni; where my parents were born, where a family of about 10 grandchildren with a prayerful Grandmother would gather every evening and pray without fail and cry out to God. Maybe it's the sincere harmonious voices that I can still hear resounding in perfect melody in an African way.

Maybe it's the profound lyrics that came to life when we lifted our voices in worship in our indigenous language isiXhosa. Time stood still in that dining room gathering and every insignificant thought at that second became futile. I was three years old, but I remember it as if it was yesterday. At that very moment I remember I would often experience a mind-blowing, tangible experience with God Almighty that would later impact my life tremendously.

The lyrics of the song are as follows:

Thixo, akunangqaleko;
Thixo akunangqibeko;
Ukho eendaweni zonke,
Ukho ngamaxesha onke.

Phaya ezinkwenkwezini
Ukho Wena, ezulwini;
Wab' ukade sel' ukhona,
Xa zingekabikho zona.

Zoda zigqibeke zonke,
Kuthi tshabalala konke;
Ube Wena ungapheli,
Ube Wena usahleli. Amen.

This is the direct English translation (Which might not be too grammatically correct)

God you have no beginning
God you have no end
You are present in all places
You are present at all times

Beside the stars
You dwell in heaven
You were there
Before their creation

At the end of time
All things shall fade
Yet you will still be there
Yet you will still be present. Amen.

Whatever is true...

Arms Open Wide

Take my life I lay it down

At the cross where I am found

All I have I give to You oh God

Take my hands and make them clean

Keep my heart in purity

That I may walk in all You have for me

- Arms Open Wide : Hillsong United

Room with a view

I first read this amazing short story in 2002 and ever since then it's message has always brought encouragement to me.

ROOM WITH A VIEW

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man couldn’t hear the band – he could see it. In his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

Be still

 

God is up to something

I'll bring You more than a song

A few years ago, some one challenged me when they asked me a rather unexpected question. He asked, "What is the song in your heart?" He further went on to explain this rather interesting question. He said that everyone needs to have a song of the Lord playing in their heart continually.

Have you ever noticed that one of the first signs that someone is in love is when they sing love songs, whistle, tap their feet or hum to themselves without a care in the world, this action is usually accompanied by a massive grin on their face.

Gift of the giver

I've been privileged to have a job that takes me to all sorts of places and spaces, today I found myself at an award ceremony for students who were mentors to first years. The passion they had to voluntarily avail themselves, giving their precious time and energy to their peers was amazing. 

It took me back to a similar experience that I had in high school where we, matrics were afforded the privilege to be mentors to the grade eights. It was a very needed programme for student's who knew very little about having timetables, traveling to and from different lectures, I learnt so many new things and so did they. Sometimes we would pray in the morning and some of them would give a word of encouragement to the class. I had many priceless memories; we had lots of fun.

Hope of all the world

“Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen.

He is my Beloved, who pleases me.

I will put my Spirit upon him,

and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

He will not fight or shout

or raise his voice in public.

He will not crush the weakest reed

or put out a flickering candle.

Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.

And his name will be the hope

of all the world.” 

- Matthew 12:18

These are the words God spoke about Jesus. If there is one single thing that I’m most grateful for in this life, it is that God has blessed me with the hope of all the world - Jesus. God blessed me with salvation and He opened the eyes of my heart to know that He is real.

"I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called--his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance." - Ephesians 1:18 (New Living Translation)

A womans heart