Who You Are

To my kings and queens here's a message from the throne-room just for you.

Listening to these made my day I hope it does the same to you.

Who You Are:

A Message To All Men

 

Who You Are:

A Message To All Women

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.

Change the World

 

Staying positive

Hey Peeps,

I'm at my midnight blogging tendencies again, I guess for me it’s the perfect time when my mind is quiet and I can reflect properly without the city buzzing noise. This just happens to be my study break so I’d like to take a moment away from my books for a bit and just write what’s on my mind.

I like to write about stuff that I can relate to and basically everything I write about here on this blog is something I’ve been through or something that I’m currently going through. I enjoy writing my thoughts and scriptures that speak to me personally. I by no means have all the answers but I often find it fascinating how when I write about something from my heart it just gives me more perspective and encouragement in my own life. I ultimately write to remind myself who God is to me mainly, and in so doing I hope in the process when you read my posts that you can draw something that can help you in one way or another.

Lately I’ve been very immersed in my studies like never before, I sleep at ridiculous hours regularly but by the grace of God my body is carrying me and I don’t tire out easily. Sometimes though I exhaust my body and don’t replenish the lost nutrients, with proper food. Because of the hours I spend working I end up having very little human interaction, which I thrive on. I love connecting with people. By the time I get home it’s past midnight.  This combined with my worn out body leaves me feeling very dry and drained. Sometimes I get home and just throw myself in bed feeling so sad and sorry for myself. This is not common for my high spirited, fun-loving, laughter filled, lively personality. 

I figured I couldn’t live like that so I’ve taken some interventions that I’ve started and continue to implement in my life as solutions:

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.

For the Lord is your life

Hey there, I've been away for a while to spend some time with family and friends in the Eastern Cape. I hope your festive season has been treating you well and that you haven't lost the real meaning behind this time; which is the celebration of our Lords birth.

Throughout these past few days, I've been pondering over a thought, a thought that was planted by a friend of mine, Mbali who said in an sms to me "There is no place like the will of God"

This scripture immediately ran passed my mind and has been for the past week:

The Offer of Life or Death

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

- Deuteronomy 30:11-20

I've been asking myself wether every area of my life was in line with Gods will. One thing that I know for sure though is that as good as it feels to go my way, it's true; no feeling, no passion, no carnal emotion can compare to being in Gods perfect will and being used by Him to bring fulfillment of His Word, of His kingdom on this earth.

In that last verse: Deuteronomy 30:20, it kind of concludes the whole paragraph by these simple 5 words that almost throw me off my chair, "For the Lord is your life." When the Lord is your life you won't need to think carnal, you won't need to depend on your own ability. For me this word came in power and might cause I like to question and reason why and how things work and happen. When the Lord is my life what He says doesn't always have to make sense at the time.

This is my resolution starting today even though the year hasn't ended yet. It should be my life resolution I guess. With that said, thank you for taking your precious time to read my blog updates. I've had a very exiting time on the blog scene despite the fact that I'm a newcomer. 2012 has been great 2013 is going to be even even better, I hope we all arrive safeley into the next year with an eagerness to serve God more. Its been real. See you on the flip side. Sweet!

Lula bug

I was blog-hopping and came across a particular paragraph from a post titled; Blog what-what, about igalelo.blogspot.com. This piece stood out to me and kind of echoed what I was thinking but of course worded in better English by a friend, high school mate and fellow sister in he Lord, Lula Hlatshwayo. Boy, I thought I could waffle but after reading her blog, Lula takes the prize. Nazzo!

"...That being said Galatians 6: 11-18 has made me think about my own sense of self-righteousness and cautious not to think highly of myself even if I "preach" for lack of a better word. I.e. it once again has reminded me that all the praise that I give to God in this blog should not only be about me wanting to be recognized and reputed as a God fearing woman. No! Not that only or even first. It should be about me wanting to lift Jesus and God higher because life and glory for that matter now should and can no longer be about me. Everything that happens in my life now, well especially the good is from and about giving glory to the one that has made it possible; GOD in the name of JESUS. Oh and I said especially the good because perhaps there is cause to argue that the Lord sometimes allows bad things to happen in our lives so that we can trust him more, I mean He even let a bad things happen to Jesus , he was crucified on a cross, and dead for three days. But it was all for His glory, hence he rose Jesus from the dead."

Check out Lula's fashion blog here.

Still, small voice

But the LORD said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. 

- 1 Kings 19b - 12a

Often times as human beings on this earth it's so easy to get caught up in the noise, the action, technology, the drama, the everyday hustle and bustle to the point that you just don't hear God speak. 

I recently encountered such a situation. It was a very draining period in my life. In all honesty, sometimes I wish that God would speak in an audible voice in my life and tell me exactly what His perfect will for my life is but God is a perfect gentleman and will only nudge ever so gently and tug on the strings of your heart. He won't impose His will on us.

Like Elijah we expect God to move in the wind, the earth quake and the fire but God is always there guiding us step by step, holding our hand ever so faithfully whispering in a small voice. We can only hear this small voice when we stop and listen. Blessed are the people that hear this still, small, gentle voice, the joyful sound - Psalm 89:15. God says "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."- Jeremiah 29:13

Once I opened my bible to a scripture that would change me, I still often to refer to it for encouragement when I need to know that God will come through for me.

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,

and there are no grapes on the vines;

even though the olive crop fails,

and the fields lie empty and barren;

even though the flocks die in the fields,

and the cattle barns are empty,

yet I will rejoice in the LORD!

I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

The Sovereign LORD is my strength!

He makes me as surefooted as a deer,

able to tread upon the heights.

- Habakkuk 3:17-19

This song is on repeat on my playlist these days

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