Seeing as God sees

Things have been a little bit hectic in our neighborhood lately.

To say I’ve been overwhelmed is an understatement!

A couple weeks back I posted on Facebook that I’d received my new glasses….

Teaching them the meaning...

Easter weekend was a lot of fun in our family, but it got me thinking about things I want my children to know and understand.

My faith in God and God being the head of our household is a very important issue for me.

So it has been a touch and go subject with Hubby Dearest and I about how to approach certain holidays.

I LOVE the memories I have as a child surrounding Easter and strongly want those for my children too. However, I still know the meaning of the holiday and that is, too, something my children must understand.

So how do you combine the modern themes with the true meanings without loosing something?

I’m blessed that we found a lovely school that also provides crèche for Lil Mister. The school ages from 1 year all the way until you graduate high school. It is grounded in Christian beliefs and teaches the Bible right along with each subject.

Hubby and I love this. We love the environment and the people. I loved seeing Lil Mister come home with Easter art projects that centered around the resurrection of Christ (at his age the crucifixion is a little too…much! We focus only on the life and resurrection, casually mentioning the death part as we read the story. We’ll focus more on that as he gets older!).

Still, though, on the last day of school before holiday his school report along with some awesome candies were in an adorable basket made into an bunny face from paper plates.

At home, during our Bible time, we read the story of the resurrection and how miraculous it was. But I still made an Easter basket and did an egg hunt over the weekend.

Am I confusing him?

A lot of people will argue with me and say that I am.

A lot of people will question what my answers will be when my boys start wondering how it all pieces together.

For now, Hubby Dearest and I are taking it holiday for holiday. We teach our sons the true meaning of Easter. They know about Jesus and why we celebrate his resurrection (well, they will know as they grow! Admittedly, they are quite small still!). I’m trying my best to teach my sons that they can have a personal relationship with God and Jesus by exemplifying that relationship in my own life.

But we teach them that this is also a time to celebrate! Easter is a celebration…not just a history lesson! What do balloons have to do with a birthday? So what does a bunny have to do with Easter? They are fun traditions we do, as a family because we’re celebrating Jesus’ life.

There are lots of stories of pagan traditions. There are links from the egg to rebirth. There are numerous ideals of how to link the two.

Quite simply, I don’t see the point in putting so much into it. God knows the place of our hearts. I want in my heart, for my children to know the point of Easter. I want them to know the significance of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. I want them to know to celebrate all of these things.

So, for me and my house, we will worship God. We will also do Easter egg hunts and put up Christmas trees! ;-)

Besides….where in the Bible does it say we must celebrate Easter? If you want to get technical…..

Shana..

When I say I am a Christian...

When I say I am a Christian

I am not shouting I’m clean living

I’m whispering I was lost

Now I’m found and forgiven

When I say I am a Christian

I don’t speak of this with pride

I’m confessing that I stumble

and need Christ to be my guide

When I say I am a Christian

I am not trying to be strong

I’m professing that I’m weak

and need His strength to carry on

When I say I am a Christian

I’m not bragging of success

I’m admitting I have failed

and need God to clean my mess

When I say I am a Christian

I am not claiming to be perfect

My flaws are far too visible

But, God believes I am worth it

When I say I am a Christian

I still feel the sting of pain

I have my shares of heartaches

So I call upon His name

When I say I am a Christian

I ‘m not holier than thou

I’m just a simple sinner

Who received God’s good grace, somehow

All Christians come under attack at some point during their lives. I’m not talking about the daily attacks of temptation for we all have our weaknesses. What I am speaking of here is when the outside world looks in and gets a glimpse of something that doesn’t fit into their “image” of what a Christian should be.

Oooh…that word image. I have to admit it stings a little bit.

The reality is that those who are not saved do not fully understand what it means to be a Christian. How often we see people profess Christianity yet they live a life completely submerged in this world. (But that is a post for another day…yes? Okay!) Therefore, the world judges us harshly. There are so many who literally look for faults in us as Christians so that they can stand on their soap boxes and scream out that we aren’t perfect. What they are failing to realize is that we are not claiming perfection! No quite the opposite.

I think that is why I love this poem so much. It says exactly what I’ve always wanted to be able to say.

Recently I was attacked by someone very close and important to me. This person does not attend church with me but assumes that I attend with the attitude of falsifying my life. They assume that I pretend to be perfect and that my life is perfect and that I never make mistakes when I’m there. This cut deep because I realized that my Christian life is appearing differently to some as what I would want it to.

You see, I am not a believer that thinks a person can NEVER have a drink. Some liquors are quite nice tasting and enjoyable. I personally do like a glass of wine. Oh there was a time in my life where I would probably have said I like a bottle (or three) of wine, but now I say I like a glass. If I was at a braai with friends who had a very good bottle of whiskey (another little indulgence) I would enjoy a single or double over ice and that would be the end. I have people in my life now who say that I am a hypocrite because I drink. I know that there are many debates on this issue. It is not my place here to debate this topic. I am merely making an example of myself!! I do not believe in getting drunk or even tipsy. However, if responsible and appropriate I don’t believe that there is anything worse to a glass of wine as there is to the chocolate bar! (That chocolate bar affects my body much longer than the one glass of wine! A lot of us can prove that in our hips!)

I’m not here to preach…..

I’m not perfect. I don’t think I’m perfect. I attend church each Sunday for fellowship with other Christians, who know I’m not perfect and know they’re not perfect, for time dedicated to worshiping God, who accepts me in all my faults and failures and loves me nonetheless, and for realization that I need to refocus my priorities each and every week. Sundays allow me a moment in which I can line everything back up. The storms of the week subside, Christ heals the wounds, and I get back to where I need to be to tackle the coming days.

By saying that I’m a Christian, I’m not saying that I use it as a crutch. This isn’t an excuse for when my temper gets ahead of me nor is it a rug to sweep my past under. This is a clear glass that I’ve chosen to bare myself in front of. By saying I am a Christian it means that I’ve chosen Christ to lead my life. It means that I’m going to trip, fall, and stumble but I don’t have to do it alone! It means that I WILL unintentionally sin but that I WILL intentionally be forgiven. It means that I know what LOVE really is.

I’ve accepted that I am made in God’s image. He created me to be exactly who I am and He loves me. That is good enough for me. I don’t need to fit the worlds image….they already fit God’s!

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

Shana

He is my King

I had a whole post planned out for today that I'd been working very hard on...however like most plans I make in life without consenting to God's will first it was derailed. I was getting so frustrated (bring on the tears preggy hormones!) as I couldn't make the words come out right. The post was random, unorganized, and completely missing the point.
Then I opened my journal to try and write and let go a little bit. When I did an article I'd kept from a service a while back fell out. Christ reminded me once again that He is King. Here is a little bit from Dr. S.M. Lockridge's famous sermon He Is My King.

My King is the King of the Jews.

He is the King of Israel.

He is the King of Righteousness.

He is the King of the Ages.

He is the King of Heaven.

He is the King of Glory.

He is the King of Kings.

And He is the Lord or Lords.

Yes, that is my King. I wonder, do you know Him?

My King is a sovereign King.

No means of measure can define His limitless love.

He is enduringly strong.

He is entirely sincere.

He is eternally steadfast.

He is immortally graceful.

He is imperially powerful.

He is impartially merciful.

Yea, that is my King. Do you know Him?

He is the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world.

He is God's Son.

He is the sinners Savior.

He is the centerpiece of civilization.

He is unparalleled.

He is unprecedented.

He is supreme.

He is preeminent.

He is the loftiest idea in literature.

he is the hightest personality in philosophy.

He is the fundamental doctrine of true theology.

He is the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Savior.

Yes, that is my King. I wonder if you know Him today?

He is the miracle of the age.

He is the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him.

He is the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously.

He supplies strength for the weak.

He is available for the tempted and the tried.

He sympathizes and He saves.

He strengthens and sustains.

He guards and He guides.

He heals the sick.

He cleanses the lepers.

He forgives sinners.

He discharges debtors.

He delivers the captive.

He defends the feeble.

He blesses the young.

He serves the unfortunate.

He regards the aged.

He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek.

I wonder if you know Him?

My King is the key to knowledge.

He is the wellspring of wisdom.

He is the doorway of deliverance.

He is the pathway of peace.

He is the roadway of righteousness.

He is the highway of holiness.

He is the gateway of glory.

He is the master of the mighty.

He is the captain of conquerors and the head of the heroes.

My King is the leader of the legislators.

He is the overseer of the over comers.

He is the governor of governors.

He is the prince of princes.

My King is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Yes that is my King. I wonder do you know Him?

That is MY KING.

His office is manifold.

His promise is sure.

His life is matchless.

His goodness is limitless.

His mercy is everlasting.

His love never changes.

His Word is enough.

His grace is sufficient.

His reign is righteous.

His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Oh, I wish I could describe Him to you, but...

He is indescribable.

He is incomprehensible.

He is invincible.

He is irresistible.

I'm trying to tell you...

The heavens of heavens cannot contain Him,

Let alone a man explain Him.
You can't get Him out of your mind

And you can't get Him off of your hands.

You cannot outlive Him and you can't live without Him.

The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him.

Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him.

The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree and Herod couldn't kill Him.

Death couldn't handle Him and the grave couldn't hold Him.

Yes, that is my King. I wonder, do you know Him?

He always has been and He always will be.

I'm talking about...

He has no predecessor and He'll have no successor.

There was nobody before Him and there'll be nobody after Him.

You cannot impeach Him and He is not going to resign.

Yes, that is My King.

I wonder...do you know Him today?

How Great is our God



Shana

Who is in control?

I’m a planner. Yep, I said it! I have a day planner for the entire year with month, week, and day sections. It has more tabs than some of the creditor files in my office. I spent weeks planning my planner. I have a blog planner too. I use this almost as often as I do chap stick! It is always open on my desk right with my planner. I jot ideas down, blogs to reply too, and plan the next entry (3 weeks away!). I also have a fitness planner! My first 4 months after pregnancy are already planned out for a perfect and natural labor. I have decided when will be my first 5km and researched and planned every second of my training. The school where my son attends for daycare provides breakfast, lunch and snack. Yet, still, I can’t help but plan his daily meals and therefore I send breakfast, lunch, two snacks, and his juice, water, tea, and milk! Oh yes, this is an illness. All of this planning stems from one deadly need. It is my need for control.


Actually this is a want but I mask it around like a need.

There are a lot of areas where I am perfectly capable of letting go of the control and others where I am exceptional at delegating. (Side note: after 10 years in the food service industry the last restaurant I worked for as a manager said upon my leaving that they will truly miss my capabilities of ‘delegating’ my work. I even managed to delegate my work to superiors at times masking it as their work! I’m that good!) I can let go of control in the dinner department at our house! MIL cooks most nights! I share in this but not on a daily basis. I also have let go of control in the laundry department! Hehe MIL is at home and does this for us too! I still pack away, scrub stains, and iron on weekends but during the week I am pretty much home free…yes I am spoilt still! Oh and the delegating! Since Hubby Dearest is at home all day as he works on call, I am quite capable at delegating certain tasks to be done each morning such as vacuuming the house or feeding the rats! Haha (insert evil laugh)

I love my family very much and am thankful for the fact that we have a system that functions most days without a hitch. I am not lazy but heck I work 10 hours a day, workout daily, have a toddler, am pregnant, and blog about it all!!

OKAY, back on point! I like to control my days. I control when I, my son, and my husband get up and get ready. I control how our mornings function, what Lil Mister wears and takes to school, and the mile long to-do list I am always editing. I freak if Lil Mister watches something I don’t approve of, is disciplined in a way I’m not comfortable with, or if the school did not handle a situation in the exact manner I would. I spend so much of my time planning that I forget to live sometimes. That is where God gave me a BIG reality check last week.

I’m actually not in control at all! I have all these plans but I’ve been failing to check with the big man upstairs whether or not my plans are matching his. It wasn’t in my plans to have a second child but here we are. I almost had a panic attack at first but now I am excited and ready to meet our bundle of love. It was in God’s plans not mine. I still think about all of my plans that got shifted around though. It wasn’t my plan when we gave up our apartment for a bigger house that we ended up not getting and had to move back in with our parents! It was in God’s plan though. And I’ve learnt to shift my views to do what he wants.

Oh but that control. You see, I’ve planned my maternity leave to a T. I will leave work half day on the 14th December. LJ is due on the 15th. I will do everything in my power to the extent of having an induction for LJ to be born on the 15th. He WILL NOT come early (you realize how distorted my plans make my logic!) I will begin my workouts again with walking on the 31st December. That is two weeks after LJ is born and that is when I was cleared for moderate physical activity with Lil Mister so I WILL be cleared this time. I WILL have a natural birth (I am scared to death of a c-section!). I WILL NOT have complications. LJ WILL be a boy….haha!! (Okay that one we have visual proof on but my mind was set even before the ultrasound! I think Hubby Dearest was relieved that LJ was a boy because he didn’t want to deal with the hormonal 20 week pregnant out of control wife!) I will run my 5km the 19th of April. See it is all planned. But….

What if God has other plans? What if LJ comes early and I must leave work sooner than planned. What if the gynae won’t induce (oh who am I kidding then I find one that will!)? What if LJ comes late? What if I have to have a c-section and am down for the full 6 weeks? I am starting to hyperventilate.

For most of you, these are all small things. One of those ‘it’s out of our hands’ type thoughts. God has everything in control. Yet, why does this not settle me? Why am I letting my fear of control loss impede my relationship with Christ?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Prov. 3:5-6

In all your ways. This is where I got slapped in the face (okay literally Lil Mister was sitting on my lap and I was so engrossed in this verse that I didn’t notice his tractor needed fixed and wham!). But spiritually God knocked me one! Yea sure it is easy to give it to God once you can’t control it any more and you need Him to pick up the pieces. It is easy to say thank you when something great comes your way. It is easy to give your worship over and let His Spirit lead you where you need to go. But what happens when that worship leads you to your knees in front of God who is laying it out flat. No holds barred!!

I was on my knees while God starred down at me saying ‘Child, LET GO! You don’t know my plans for you. You have desires because I placed them in you for MY works! Your plans MUST line up with mine! You must let ME lead your family.’

Wait a minute, Lord. But my husband isn’t living a life in you right now. I need to be in control. I need to direct the spiritual warfare. I am the spiritual captain right now! If I let go, then who?

But God always has answers, you see. He made sure I knew right then and there that He was the captain. At that moment while I lay in bed trying to figure this puzzle out Hubby Dearest came in for the night and talked to me about everything going on in our life. We spoke about hurtful words and emotionally harmful choices. And God made sure I knew that was Him not me that lead that conversation. Although my prayers are still the most valid form of spiritual warfare, I must stop trying to lead where our battles go.

My need for control has gone so deep that I have taken away the pants in our family. Shame on me. I’m so focused on trying to do what is ‘right’ for my family I’m not asking God what he wants for my family. I have tried to take the lead position, a position in my family meant solely for my husband.

There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel- that will stand. Proverbs 19:21

So today, I pray. I pray for peace as I begin to let go. I pray for strength as I battle the internal fight for control. Most of all I battle for wisdom from the Lord. That I will know when He is pushing me forward and when He is telling me to hold back. I pray for my family as they unknowingly embark on this journey with me. I pray that I embrace the change in myself. I praise the Lord for the freedom I will feel knowing HE is in control of my life and that I happily sit in the passengers’ seat. I praise the Lord for the joy I will know in releasing what I can not have a say in. I praise the Lord for allowing me to be open to His criticism. Thank you Lord.

Proverbs 11:2 - 8

When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom. The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them. Riches don't profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires. When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing. A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked takes his place

Rock Solid

Oh yea!! It's Worship Wednesday!! I've been craving this all week!!

Yahweh Tsuri: The Lord My Rock

I get daily devotions in my email. These devotions always seem to have a purpose and a place and therefore I am registered with more than one!! I actually have three that I am currently working through. The first is a devotion I read everyday as it comes in! Some days it gives me exactly what I need and on others it gives me food for thought. The second devotion is a weekly couple’s devotion. I print and file these. Although I read through them, I pray that one day my husband and I will do them together. The final devotion is a study. It is about the many names of God. Last weeks name was particularly ground breaking for me and I thought it would make a wonderful topic for this weeks worship!!

Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer… Reach down your hand from on high; deliver me and rescue me from the mighty waters, from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful I will sing a new song to you, O God; on the ten stringed lyre I will make music to you, to the One who gives victory to kings, who delivers His servant David from the sword. Psalm 144:1-2, 7-10

What does it mean for God to be our rock? It means firstly that He is the foundation that we stand on! We must build our lives on a strong, firm, and sturdy foundation. Rocks of many forms (bricks, stones, ect) are used to provide shelter and safety. Stones were piled to commemerate events in Israels history and the ten commandments were also written on stone. We grind rocks to create the foundation in which we build our houses today on. In essence a foundation is one GIANT stone plate. Is it not appropriate then that we should consider God a Rock in that we make Him our Foundation!

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. Isaiah 33:6

It is vital to our relationship with God that He is the ground in which our lives are built upon. A weak foundation will surely crumble.

Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness.’ 2 Timothy 2:19

No matter what happens in life, no matter how bad it seems, as a child of God our foundation of hope is in God and that can NEVER be ruined.

Secondly, God is unbreakable. He will not crumble. The rock of His promises stands firm. We can depend on what God says to be true! It will happen. He is our strength, our refuge, our tower!

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and he horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent men you save me. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. 2 Samuel 22:2-4

So, what exactly is all of this about??

More than six years ago, God started pressing in my heart a certainty I couldn’t deny. This was a very low, LOW, point in my life in which I will share another time. I wasn’t aware it was God at the time, but He placed a passion in my life for South Africa and I willingly investigated this passion. As the years passed I was given the means and people necessary to straighten up and got right with God. I turned my life around in ways I never knew possible and learnt the strength God instills in His children! He brought me up from the bottom of myself and gave me a new foundation. Someday I will share with all of you the details but today is not focused on the past but the future!

Four years ago I learnt why God had placed a passion for South Africa in me. I’d been planning a missionary journey to South Africa when a friend convinced me to go out one night with her. During that evening I met Hubby Dearest! God let me know immediately that I had misunderstood Him and that I was looking into the eyes of my future husband. It was quite a shock! I’d just turned 19!! Yet, I trusted God. I trusted His voice and His leading in my life. Over the next 7 months I tossed and turned the idea. I went full steam ahead and then pulled away. I couldn’t make my mind follow what I knew God wanted. It just seemed to irrational! Marrying a guy I barely knew!

Please read all about how Brendon and I met at The Boys! It is a fairytale. Finally, though, I gave into God. I allowed the Holy Spirit to lead me. I listened to what I was being encouraged. God promised that He wanted the best for my life. He wanted to pour out blessings and love over me. He purposed me to be more and do more. I would reach people. I would be a light for Him. I would please Him. I would do it in America South Africa!

So, I did. I packed my bags and followed God into the arms of my husband. I am so thankful everyday that I listened to God. It isn’t always easy. We still disagree and have our lows like any marriage. BUT….God is my ROCK. I have the rock of His promises. I have the foundation that He will not stray from me. He always has His hands on my life. The Lord is my Rock means that I can not fall on weak grounds. My feet are planted firm in the promises He made to me. When my marriage seems destitute and weak, I have the Rock of His Word. When my marriage seems like it can’t get any worse, I have the Rock of His Love. When my marriage seems like it is falling apart, I have the Rock of His Mercy. And when my marriage seems like Hell, I have the Rock of His Glory!! My marriage was a gift from God for obeying! My children are blessing from God for doing His works! He is a Rock and I stand firm with Him!

You will keep in perfect peace Him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever for the Lord, the LORD, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:3-4

Pray with me: Take some time now and thank God for His unfailing love and faithfullness. Praise Him for being your Rock and Foundation. Thank the LORD for all the times He has provided you with a steady path to walk on and for all the times He will continue to provide. Praise Him for the promises we can rely on from Him! Admit that you are weak without Him. Sometimes we only see the world and how it is coming down on us just as Peter only saw the waves crashing around and began to sink. We fail to place our feet on the solid ground and we suffer as we watch our houses crumble on unstable foundations. Ask God for guidance in building a life centered on Him being your Rock! Ask for help in creating a solid foundation in your homes, work, and relationships. Praise Him! Worship Him!

Shana

Left Behind- WW

It’s the middle of the week and that brings me to Worship Wednesday! Cliché, I know right? Yet, it is so, so important!

Worship is a center point in my relationship with God. So often it is in the midst of worship that I feel His presence the strongest and here His voice the loudest. It brings me back into a humble position before His feet. There are so many ways to worship the Lord, yet song is often the manner which frequents our minds. However, spending quiet time accepting His Spirit into my heart is another form of worship. Being still before Him is often very vital. I firmly believe we should spend our days in prayer, yet it is those moments in which we submerse ourselves in the Lord, maintain His presence, and give back all the glory in which He is due, that we are truly fulfilled.

Pray without ceasing…                    1 Thessalonians 5:17

This week my worship caught me a little off guard. I’ve been reading the Left Behind series. For anyone who has not read these books, regardless of it you’ve watched the movie, I urge you to go get yourself a copy! They are absolutely heart moving. I can’t but help fearing for what these characters are going through. As a believer in a pre-tribulation rapture, these books are not only helping me to understand how events will take place but also putting it into perspective how terrible it will be!

Please don’t misunderstand me here. I am not one of those fanatics, shouting from roof tops that the end is near. I just believe that we should live everyday as if Christ could show up in the next 5 minutes! As I read these books I find my soul crying out to the Lord. I feign for more in my relationship with Him. I desire to be closer. I don’t want to be left behind…I don’t want to see my loved ones either. It is more than this though. The main characters in this series experience a hunger, a drive, and a passion for Christ because of KNOWING what they’ve missed all these years. I don’t want to wake up one day when I’m 70 having lived an okay life and realized how much better it could have been if only I’d gotten my relationship with God right from the word “go.”

My heart is longing for that hunger that these characters are experiencing. The strength to stand in the face of Satan and not tremble. I want the blessings the Lord has promised over my life. I want to shout His glories from everywhere!

‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and hope.’ Jeremiah 29:11

How could I have been missing it for so long? God wants my life to be filled with JOY! He wants my children to be provided for just as HE provides for me! He wants my life to be MIRACULOUS!

As I sit down for my worship today, I realize I want more. I want to be overflowing with comfort in God. I want an eye to eye, heart to heart talk with Him. So, please, join me on Wednesdays for a short break for WORSHIP! Read along as my relationship grows closer to God and enjoy all the blessings He has prepared for our lives!
Check out this amazing video of Casting Crowns-Glorious Day!
It's my theme for where my heart is forcused today!!

Never hesitate to pour your love out to the LORD...for He has never failed to deliver His!!