I will probably continually edit this post so that I have one running post and not many about the same thing...
29 May 2007 - Current favourites...
* Food: Well besides Chiprolls (All time Favourite), the new current favourite which is at last a healthy alternative is Kauai's Princess Sandwich (Wholewheat roll with carrots, tomato, special mayo type sauce, avo and chicken, not sure if there's cheese too - also a good mood food so affects your mood), plus their Pacific Passion moothie (mmmm, i crave for this alot, has pineapple in it). Also like believe it or not stopping to put petrol in, and buying a hot choc which I drink on the way in bumper2bumper traffic to work! (that seems to be the only time of day I like hot choc) -> coffee wise - The Ellis Brown milkpowder type at work - now thats a bad habit i need to get off (that plus the chip roll habit)
* Music: Hillsong United keeps ringing in my head - Lead me to the Cross sung by Brooke Fraser on All of the Above CD. - then I will live to know you - on Look to You CD, and then on the United we stand CD - Came to my rescue, From the Inside Out and Fire Fall down...
* TV: Prison Break has taken the Number One Slot currently, I just love it. I also love how they have sort of kept Michael Schofields character clean and how they sort of keep the christian references clean instead of what they do in other movies/series... Perhaps I'm missing stuff, but besides some of the gore, I can tend to watch this story without regretting anything afterwards.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Conviction and Living Out those Convictions and Righteousness
Just shared these points with someone else and thought I'd add it here to be a reminder to me too :)
No. 1) It's not how much you know that matters but how much you live what you know...
No. 2) With that in mind know that what you know will be challenged. Or you can feel confident on where you at based on what you know but it's only when we are challenged that we trully see what we know. (And when challenged and fall, even repeatedly... don't allow yourself to say well clearly you will never change! Keep getting up, keep trying again and you will build the resistance you need to overcome, challenges are a time of living out, practising what we know in our heads and hearts)
No. 3) With regards to righteousness, it's just baby steps in the right direction with God's help of course. It's not having pride about how great you think you are but instead remaining humble and working through your issues.... And you may not see all at once, but the ones that you do see, act on your convictions.(also emphasis on YOUR convictions, we all have different areas in our lives that are highlighted or standing out) if you know there's something that you need to change you have one of 2 choices... A) Act on your conviction, begin to work at it, until that isnt' a part of your life, "bad habit", weight anymore, even find someone who will keep you accountable till you're through it or B) Silence the voice of conscious in you, supress the knowledge of doing the right thing, until you hardly hear it anymore.(this happens bit by bit as we continually not do the thing we feeling convicted about)[NOT THE RECOMMENDED OPTION] We don't become righteous over night, but with God's help and by His grace we are able to overcome whatever is thrown at us, and this is not just so we can be "kwaai" in our own rights, but so that we can be a blessing, a help, etc. to the next person... You doing well in your work and studies is not just a blessing to you and your fam and future fam, but to all who work under you... Because as you grow, you have more to give to others...
No. 1) It's not how much you know that matters but how much you live what you know...
No. 2) With that in mind know that what you know will be challenged. Or you can feel confident on where you at based on what you know but it's only when we are challenged that we trully see what we know. (And when challenged and fall, even repeatedly... don't allow yourself to say well clearly you will never change! Keep getting up, keep trying again and you will build the resistance you need to overcome, challenges are a time of living out, practising what we know in our heads and hearts)
No. 3) With regards to righteousness, it's just baby steps in the right direction with God's help of course. It's not having pride about how great you think you are but instead remaining humble and working through your issues.... And you may not see all at once, but the ones that you do see, act on your convictions.(also emphasis on YOUR convictions, we all have different areas in our lives that are highlighted or standing out) if you know there's something that you need to change you have one of 2 choices... A) Act on your conviction, begin to work at it, until that isnt' a part of your life, "bad habit", weight anymore, even find someone who will keep you accountable till you're through it or B) Silence the voice of conscious in you, supress the knowledge of doing the right thing, until you hardly hear it anymore.(this happens bit by bit as we continually not do the thing we feeling convicted about)[NOT THE RECOMMENDED OPTION] We don't become righteous over night, but with God's help and by His grace we are able to overcome whatever is thrown at us, and this is not just so we can be "kwaai" in our own rights, but so that we can be a blessing, a help, etc. to the next person... You doing well in your work and studies is not just a blessing to you and your fam and future fam, but to all who work under you... Because as you grow, you have more to give to others...
Thursday, May 24, 2007
I make known the end from the beginning...
Today I had an awesome revelation which ties in with some other ones that I havent added yet...
It first started with something negative... I really put off this project I had to do till the very last minute, I took a day's leave at work to work on it but only began working on it 2pm...and it had to be submitted online before 7pm (after I've had the project for 2 months. The topic of the project was Bad Management leading to Business Failure. And because of the very short time I had, I handed in a project that has a well referenced, well written, in my own words, INTRODUCTION, but the rest of the essay was pretty sloppy and I didnt even get a chance to do the conclusion. In my head I am still sitting with the thoughts of I want to write this and that, but I just have to tell myself just get over it, accept the bad mark I'm going to get...
With that outline sketched, I begin thinking "why do I do this to myself" Why do I go out last night when I know I have this project due? Why do I not do it until the very last, Why do I feel I can only do it when it's at the last minute... I then thought perhaps the project should have been "Bad Management leads to Personal failure" I would probably have written a book of mistakes, because till today I find myself falling sometimes for the same situations I thought I have overcome! And then I got a little bit sad... And knew Dont think that! Or dont think to write that report on how I disordered I am, even got a chronic disease out of stress!...
Well just then without me choosing to think about it, God brought to memory this scripture that Pastor Gavin always preaches about...
Isaiah 46:10 A
10 I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
{{Smile}}
That Stopped those negative thoughts right in it's track...I may keep falling and look at my past and say look how I messed up... But God when he made me He made known the end from the beginning, In otherwords If God wrote the little essay I thought about writing (which in fact he did in His book) He begins with the conclusion first...He already wrote the ending before he started with the beginning... So all these challenges and setbacks are nothing compared to the Glory He has ahead for me! So I am just going to keep getting up and moving forward... Doesnt matter if I am falling more than others, or less than others, or whatever... I know that my God has made known my end from my beginning, and as Jeremiah 29:11 says He knows the plans He has for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, to give me a HOPE and a FUTURE.
Now I'm thinking of that Mary Mary Song.
I Just Can't GIVE UP NOW...
Come to far from where I've started from...
Nobody told me, the road would be easy...
But I DONT believe, he's brought me this far, to leave me...
And so I said there were revelations I had that I didnt write down yet, I guess its because I'm still in the moment with them still mulling on it and trying to live it (because thats what counts at the end of the day, not how much you know, but how much you live!)
I've been wrestling with some things in this past time,things that I'm not entirely sure how to handle. Things that remind me of the past, yet it's different and I'm different, but at the same time it's so easy to go from being ok to not ok. Things that have been making me feel like I can't go to God, not because I cant go to God, but because I'm already thinking what I think God is going to say... I think?
Anyway it started Sunday with God saying through the Parable of the talents and my pastor phrasing God's response to the third servant exactly the way I tend to think and then get a response from the people I have said this to...
Matthew 25:24 -27
24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
Well the way Pastor Gareth phrased it was this servant says to the "Master, I knew you are a hard man..." And the Master says, Well seeing as you already made up your mind that I am like that, why didnt you at least then put the money in the bank"
A couple of things stood out, there's at least 2 important people (my mom being one) in my life who I've already said this is what I thought they thought and they immediately respond "So if that's what you think I'm going to say/do/think?...". It immediately resonated in my mind that I do that... And then it hit me that I was doing that to God, in this situation that I'm struggling with (without knowing that i was doing it, but I was doing it) I had already decided that I cannot take this to God, because if I do this is what he's going to say...(it wasnt in so many words, but because there was fear to go to him I can look back and say that I was already deciding what God is going to say/do/etc. about my situation)... And also I felt that I first need to make the situation right before I can go to him, which isnt right either (and although i knew that I should go to God regardless - head knowledge) I was feeling like I can't...And yet God is not man, He is constant, he doesn't love me more when I'm good and less when I'm bad, He loves me regardless... Why was I afraid. To get anywhere, even in this situation I need him, whatever the outcome is... And so I cannot be all Good with God and then when I hit a storm then all of a sudden I'm back to my initial I'm challenged by my view of God, because you see, God doesnt change, in fact the bible says he remains faithful, even when we're not!. Because that's who he is...
So Sometime in the week I thought it's not good enough that I have a couple of scriptures somewhere in the back of my head that gives me goosebumps, it's time that I actually take it to heart and live it and believe it, and remind myself of that word, so that when storms come I know who God is, I remember the word I cling on the word... Some of the scriptures that God has given me in the past couple of years: (it's not good enough to say oh that is such a pretty scripture, it's to know God is saying this to me, therefore this is what he wants to do in my life, this is what He decided already for me even before I was created)
Isaiah 54:10
Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,"
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
(Thought of this scripture again today. God is saying, Chandre EVEN THOUGH, the mountains are shaken, My UNFAILING LOVE for you will not be shaken. Even if it feels the world is falling around you, even though you keep falling, and you keep facing storms, I have made a COVENANT -wow- of PEACE with/for you... So that covenant will not be removed!)
11 "O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted,
I will build you with stones of turquoise, [a]
your foundations with sapphires. [b]
12 I will make your battlements of rubies,
your gates of sparkling jewels,
and all your walls of precious stones.
(God wants to build me up again, every wall in my life he wants to build up again with precious stones, despite all the bruises, hurts, mistakes, even my own, he will build me up again, and further it says Great will be my Childrens Peace, the promise is not just for me but for my children and my childrens children - God you are awesome!)
So Just to recap...
God has made known the end from the beginning... He already wrote the end... He has those plans to give us a hope and a future, before we even thought, breathed, lived. So when I'm going through this stuff, who am I going to believe, am I going to believe me, or my past, or the storms, or am I going to look to God who remains faithful, even when I'm not who is constant, who has promises for me, who is not a man that he could lie...
Oh yes, then sometime in this revelation he showed me again the scripture of Isaiah
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts
His thoughts are not my thoughts, His thoughts are Higher than my thoughts...I cannot decide with my carnal mind what God is going to do an think, it's so cool beacuse this chapter where this comes from begins like this:
Isaiah 55
Invitation to the Thirsty
1 "Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
That's God's heart... All who are thirsty, come... I dont think the way you do, in fact my ways are higher than your ways - which again goes with one of the 2 scriptures God has given me for 2007
Proverbs 3
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight
Dont depend on the way you think, Trust him...
Ok, I think this is all about Tuesday and then I had dance theory and Lucinda gives us Luke 6:46 and before she even reads it I think I know this already "Why do you call me Lord Lord and do not do what I say..." But just before she reads she said listen with your ears, but also listen with the ears of your heart...I decided to try that, and though I didnt think I can get new revelation on this scripture, than I already know it's about if you going to say He's your Lord you have to do the word and not just hear it... But inside I asked God to please show me something new in that scripture
Luke 6:46
46"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
What stood out for me was the storms that are still going to come. You not just going to read the word and never face a challenge. We going to face challenges! But are we just reading the word and saying wow what a lovely scripture, and then going back to daily life and then being totally surprised when storms hit, and maybe being hit off your feet. Or do I take the word and Storm or no storm, and put it into practice, make it become a part of me, not just a nice thought, wishful thinking, pipe dream, but Yes, GOD says in His word, I am the apple of his eye, I am the Head and not the tail, I am his beloved, He says neither death, nor life, nor sickness, nor angels nor demons, etc.etc...NOTHING can separate me from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus. If I live this way, if I put the word I receive in practise then I will stand, but if I just hear the word, that's not enough...It's not enough to stand... And storms will come in fact they come daily... What we learnt at dance on this is, that all God asks of us is to build a strong foundation, that's how we stand.
Ok so that's Tuesday...
Last night, I thought agian about this situation, all the ifs, and buts and hows? how is it going to work out Lord? And God just whispered - Surrender.
Before i get the answers I need to surrender, I need to stop fighting, and kicking and screaming, and shaking my head (ok this sounds a bit extreme, but I'm picturing someone pushed into the deep end of the pool and can only doggy paddle)...well I need to stop doing that when I come to God... because if I just surrender. just stop fighting. Just stop pushing, stop looking away. And just Stop. I will see Hey, it's my Father!... I will see his eyes of love... I will know that God knows whats best...
Before we go to the point of how its all going to work out, we need to get to the point of TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART! in ALL your ways acknowledge him. its at the point of surrender that we can hear God's heart for us. Its when we give up or like people always say it's when I let go and let God...That's when he can do something even greater in my life that i could even imagine...It's when it becomes Your will be done Lord...Even Jesus. when he thought of the cross, it became too much, he was so anxious he sweated blood. But when he thought what laid beyond the cross, that his death would bring us life, that we would all be able overcome whatever threatens to make us fall, if he goes through it, He said "Yet not my will Lord, but your will be done"
Ok, so That was last night, my answer will come when I surrender... And then as said before today's revelation was the end from the beginning.
I dont know if anyone else who reads this will understand, I trust you can see how the thread runs through all of this... Again a little summary...
SUMMARY
Storms are going to come. And we may fall, in fact we may fall repeatedly. In fact, if you going to grow in your knowledge, that knowledge is going to be challenged. It's going to be tested (James 1 - count it pure joy when you face trials - because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance). However Dont wait for the trials to come before you live out the word. Dont just hear the word, Live it, put it into practise. Those are God's words to you. It's not just a good idea, he actually wants to build you up. He actually wants to heal you. He meant it when he made that covenant with you but from your side you need to take that word and make it part of your life, build a solid foundation. And then when you are tested... You're going to be challenged, you going to look at your past, you may say why am I falling in this again, maybe I'll never make it through this... But that's not what God says...He says No, my child I already know the end, Get with me and I will make sure that though the mountains are shaken, my love for you will never be shaken.. My covenant of peace (the rebuilding restoring type of peace) will never be removed. But also know this, in those storms, satan may challenge your view of God, in fact that is the very thing he did to Eve, but didnt God say this? But God said this because he knew you'd be like him if you ate this, that's why he did this... Yes, friend...The enemy is even going to try and bring doubt about who God is and what he said about you...But you gotta know that God's ways arent yours, his thoughts, are higher than your thoughts... I once heard a saying " Don't doubt God, rather doubt your doubts..." And it's so true...
2 Tim 2: 13
if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.
Thats who he is...Faithful... Know your word. Live your word. Know God through the word. Doubt your doubts. Dont believe the lies. About God or about yourself. He loves you more than the whole world put together...Unfailing love.
The ball is in our court. God will not stop loving us. But we need to act on what we believe. Theres so much more he wants to do through us... The word says it is for Freedom that Christ set us free. Not to still sukkel with the same old same old. Let's take this walk to a whole nother level...
Chan
Promises...
It first started with something negative... I really put off this project I had to do till the very last minute, I took a day's leave at work to work on it but only began working on it 2pm...and it had to be submitted online before 7pm (after I've had the project for 2 months. The topic of the project was Bad Management leading to Business Failure. And because of the very short time I had, I handed in a project that has a well referenced, well written, in my own words, INTRODUCTION, but the rest of the essay was pretty sloppy and I didnt even get a chance to do the conclusion. In my head I am still sitting with the thoughts of I want to write this and that, but I just have to tell myself just get over it, accept the bad mark I'm going to get...
With that outline sketched, I begin thinking "why do I do this to myself" Why do I go out last night when I know I have this project due? Why do I not do it until the very last, Why do I feel I can only do it when it's at the last minute... I then thought perhaps the project should have been "Bad Management leads to Personal failure" I would probably have written a book of mistakes, because till today I find myself falling sometimes for the same situations I thought I have overcome! And then I got a little bit sad... And knew Dont think that! Or dont think to write that report on how I disordered I am, even got a chronic disease out of stress!...
Well just then without me choosing to think about it, God brought to memory this scripture that Pastor Gavin always preaches about...
Isaiah 46:10 A
10 I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
{{Smile}}
That Stopped those negative thoughts right in it's track...I may keep falling and look at my past and say look how I messed up... But God when he made me He made known the end from the beginning, In otherwords If God wrote the little essay I thought about writing (which in fact he did in His book) He begins with the conclusion first...He already wrote the ending before he started with the beginning... So all these challenges and setbacks are nothing compared to the Glory He has ahead for me! So I am just going to keep getting up and moving forward... Doesnt matter if I am falling more than others, or less than others, or whatever... I know that my God has made known my end from my beginning, and as Jeremiah 29:11 says He knows the plans He has for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, to give me a HOPE and a FUTURE.
Now I'm thinking of that Mary Mary Song.
I Just Can't GIVE UP NOW...
Come to far from where I've started from...
Nobody told me, the road would be easy...
But I DONT believe, he's brought me this far, to leave me...
And so I said there were revelations I had that I didnt write down yet, I guess its because I'm still in the moment with them still mulling on it and trying to live it (because thats what counts at the end of the day, not how much you know, but how much you live!)
I've been wrestling with some things in this past time,things that I'm not entirely sure how to handle. Things that remind me of the past, yet it's different and I'm different, but at the same time it's so easy to go from being ok to not ok. Things that have been making me feel like I can't go to God, not because I cant go to God, but because I'm already thinking what I think God is going to say... I think?
Anyway it started Sunday with God saying through the Parable of the talents and my pastor phrasing God's response to the third servant exactly the way I tend to think and then get a response from the people I have said this to...
Matthew 25:24 -27
24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
Well the way Pastor Gareth phrased it was this servant says to the "Master, I knew you are a hard man..." And the Master says, Well seeing as you already made up your mind that I am like that, why didnt you at least then put the money in the bank"
A couple of things stood out, there's at least 2 important people (my mom being one) in my life who I've already said this is what I thought they thought and they immediately respond "So if that's what you think I'm going to say/do/think?...". It immediately resonated in my mind that I do that... And then it hit me that I was doing that to God, in this situation that I'm struggling with (without knowing that i was doing it, but I was doing it) I had already decided that I cannot take this to God, because if I do this is what he's going to say...(it wasnt in so many words, but because there was fear to go to him I can look back and say that I was already deciding what God is going to say/do/etc. about my situation)... And also I felt that I first need to make the situation right before I can go to him, which isnt right either (and although i knew that I should go to God regardless - head knowledge) I was feeling like I can't...And yet God is not man, He is constant, he doesn't love me more when I'm good and less when I'm bad, He loves me regardless... Why was I afraid. To get anywhere, even in this situation I need him, whatever the outcome is... And so I cannot be all Good with God and then when I hit a storm then all of a sudden I'm back to my initial I'm challenged by my view of God, because you see, God doesnt change, in fact the bible says he remains faithful, even when we're not!. Because that's who he is...
So Sometime in the week I thought it's not good enough that I have a couple of scriptures somewhere in the back of my head that gives me goosebumps, it's time that I actually take it to heart and live it and believe it, and remind myself of that word, so that when storms come I know who God is, I remember the word I cling on the word... Some of the scriptures that God has given me in the past couple of years: (it's not good enough to say oh that is such a pretty scripture, it's to know God is saying this to me, therefore this is what he wants to do in my life, this is what He decided already for me even before I was created)
Isaiah 54:10
Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,"
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
(Thought of this scripture again today. God is saying, Chandre EVEN THOUGH, the mountains are shaken, My UNFAILING LOVE for you will not be shaken. Even if it feels the world is falling around you, even though you keep falling, and you keep facing storms, I have made a COVENANT -wow- of PEACE with/for you... So that covenant will not be removed!)
11 "O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted,
I will build you with stones of turquoise, [a]
your foundations with sapphires. [b]
12 I will make your battlements of rubies,
your gates of sparkling jewels,
and all your walls of precious stones.
(God wants to build me up again, every wall in my life he wants to build up again with precious stones, despite all the bruises, hurts, mistakes, even my own, he will build me up again, and further it says Great will be my Childrens Peace, the promise is not just for me but for my children and my childrens children - God you are awesome!)
So Just to recap...
God has made known the end from the beginning... He already wrote the end... He has those plans to give us a hope and a future, before we even thought, breathed, lived. So when I'm going through this stuff, who am I going to believe, am I going to believe me, or my past, or the storms, or am I going to look to God who remains faithful, even when I'm not who is constant, who has promises for me, who is not a man that he could lie...
Oh yes, then sometime in this revelation he showed me again the scripture of Isaiah
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts
His thoughts are not my thoughts, His thoughts are Higher than my thoughts...I cannot decide with my carnal mind what God is going to do an think, it's so cool beacuse this chapter where this comes from begins like this:
Isaiah 55
Invitation to the Thirsty
1 "Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
That's God's heart... All who are thirsty, come... I dont think the way you do, in fact my ways are higher than your ways - which again goes with one of the 2 scriptures God has given me for 2007
Proverbs 3
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight
Dont depend on the way you think, Trust him...
Ok, I think this is all about Tuesday and then I had dance theory and Lucinda gives us Luke 6:46 and before she even reads it I think I know this already "Why do you call me Lord Lord and do not do what I say..." But just before she reads she said listen with your ears, but also listen with the ears of your heart...I decided to try that, and though I didnt think I can get new revelation on this scripture, than I already know it's about if you going to say He's your Lord you have to do the word and not just hear it... But inside I asked God to please show me something new in that scripture
Luke 6:46
46"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
What stood out for me was the storms that are still going to come. You not just going to read the word and never face a challenge. We going to face challenges! But are we just reading the word and saying wow what a lovely scripture, and then going back to daily life and then being totally surprised when storms hit, and maybe being hit off your feet. Or do I take the word and Storm or no storm, and put it into practice, make it become a part of me, not just a nice thought, wishful thinking, pipe dream, but Yes, GOD says in His word, I am the apple of his eye, I am the Head and not the tail, I am his beloved, He says neither death, nor life, nor sickness, nor angels nor demons, etc.etc...NOTHING can separate me from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus. If I live this way, if I put the word I receive in practise then I will stand, but if I just hear the word, that's not enough...It's not enough to stand... And storms will come in fact they come daily... What we learnt at dance on this is, that all God asks of us is to build a strong foundation, that's how we stand.
Ok so that's Tuesday...
Last night, I thought agian about this situation, all the ifs, and buts and hows? how is it going to work out Lord? And God just whispered - Surrender.
Before i get the answers I need to surrender, I need to stop fighting, and kicking and screaming, and shaking my head (ok this sounds a bit extreme, but I'm picturing someone pushed into the deep end of the pool and can only doggy paddle)...well I need to stop doing that when I come to God... because if I just surrender. just stop fighting. Just stop pushing, stop looking away. And just Stop. I will see Hey, it's my Father!... I will see his eyes of love... I will know that God knows whats best...
Before we go to the point of how its all going to work out, we need to get to the point of TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART! in ALL your ways acknowledge him. its at the point of surrender that we can hear God's heart for us. Its when we give up or like people always say it's when I let go and let God...That's when he can do something even greater in my life that i could even imagine...It's when it becomes Your will be done Lord...Even Jesus. when he thought of the cross, it became too much, he was so anxious he sweated blood. But when he thought what laid beyond the cross, that his death would bring us life, that we would all be able overcome whatever threatens to make us fall, if he goes through it, He said "Yet not my will Lord, but your will be done"
Ok, so That was last night, my answer will come when I surrender... And then as said before today's revelation was the end from the beginning.
I dont know if anyone else who reads this will understand, I trust you can see how the thread runs through all of this... Again a little summary...
SUMMARY
Storms are going to come. And we may fall, in fact we may fall repeatedly. In fact, if you going to grow in your knowledge, that knowledge is going to be challenged. It's going to be tested (James 1 - count it pure joy when you face trials - because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance). However Dont wait for the trials to come before you live out the word. Dont just hear the word, Live it, put it into practise. Those are God's words to you. It's not just a good idea, he actually wants to build you up. He actually wants to heal you. He meant it when he made that covenant with you but from your side you need to take that word and make it part of your life, build a solid foundation. And then when you are tested... You're going to be challenged, you going to look at your past, you may say why am I falling in this again, maybe I'll never make it through this... But that's not what God says...He says No, my child I already know the end, Get with me and I will make sure that though the mountains are shaken, my love for you will never be shaken.. My covenant of peace (the rebuilding restoring type of peace) will never be removed. But also know this, in those storms, satan may challenge your view of God, in fact that is the very thing he did to Eve, but didnt God say this? But God said this because he knew you'd be like him if you ate this, that's why he did this... Yes, friend...The enemy is even going to try and bring doubt about who God is and what he said about you...But you gotta know that God's ways arent yours, his thoughts, are higher than your thoughts... I once heard a saying " Don't doubt God, rather doubt your doubts..." And it's so true...
2 Tim 2: 13
if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.
Thats who he is...Faithful... Know your word. Live your word. Know God through the word. Doubt your doubts. Dont believe the lies. About God or about yourself. He loves you more than the whole world put together...Unfailing love.
The ball is in our court. God will not stop loving us. But we need to act on what we believe. Theres so much more he wants to do through us... The word says it is for Freedom that Christ set us free. Not to still sukkel with the same old same old. Let's take this walk to a whole nother level...
Chan
Promises...
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
My purpose remains... The art of losing myself in bringing YOU praise
Just listened to one of my favourite Hillsong United songs...
FROM THE INSIDE OUT
A thousand times I've failed
Still Your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in Your grace
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise
[Especially this verse above, may I always remember it's not about me, it's about Your will. And may I bring you praise from the inside out! It starts in my heart, my thoughts and my motives and that flows into action... Lord when you look at me and my life may You see worship unto you, and Holy Spirit may you always lead me, and may I grow in my relationship with you too so that I can be even more of a blessing to Him who sits on the throne, the King of Kings and only Living God.]
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart and my soul
Lord I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out
(
In my life be lifted high
In our world be lifted high
In our love be lifted be lifted - Came to My Rescue)
FROM THE INSIDE OUT
A thousand times I've failed
Still Your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in Your grace
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise
[Especially this verse above, may I always remember it's not about me, it's about Your will. And may I bring you praise from the inside out! It starts in my heart, my thoughts and my motives and that flows into action... Lord when you look at me and my life may You see worship unto you, and Holy Spirit may you always lead me, and may I grow in my relationship with you too so that I can be even more of a blessing to Him who sits on the throne, the King of Kings and only Living God.]
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart and my soul
Lord I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out
(
In my life be lifted high
In our world be lifted high
In our love be lifted be lifted - Came to My Rescue)
Friday, May 18, 2007
Whatever doesnt Bear Fruit Cut it off...
My hair was in a very bad condition, so I cut it off :) Now I look 27 or (26 and 10 months and my sister is very happy about it so that when she says her older sister I actually look older than her 20 years... (bear in mind the short hair is on a good hair day...
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Latest Poem: God...
Before there was earth
There was you
Before there was light
You shone in the darkness
Before there was life
We were written in your book
The Creator of creators
You...
With intricate detail
The universe designed
With infinite patience
You wait for mankind's response
With an unending love
You reach out to your creation
The Definition of Love
You...
An image of you
We advance in this world
A copy of you
We create fascinatingly
The fragrance of you
As we love, smile and cry
The object of your affection
Us...
You've given us your creation
to rule and live in and enjoy
You've given us your son
who proved his love in death
You've given us your spirit
who raises us the same way he rose the son
A father,friend,comforter,saviour
God...
We have removed you
After all did man not climb the moon?
We have replaced you
My agenda, romance, ideas too important
We have abandoned you
Of what use is a 2000 year old book
Creation denied their creator
You...
Open the eyes of our heart
So we can see your glory again
Speak to the ears of our heart
So we may discern your truth
Soften the hard parts of our heart
In every part may there be room for you
Oh God may we as your people return to you
Return...
You said that if we'd return to you
In you the fatherless will find compassion
If we do not worship what our hands have made
You will heal and love us freely
You say if we will walk in your ways
To us you'd be like dew
The Lord,gracious and compassionate
Slow to anger and abounding in love
God...
Chandré De Wet, 16 May 2007
Scriptures Used:
Psalm 103
Hosea 14
Psalm 139
Gen 1-3
Psalm 51:17
Psalm 53
Proverbs 16:9
then also
* Scripture on how he will turn our hearts of stone into flesh
* 1 John - God is Love
There was you
Before there was light
You shone in the darkness
Before there was life
We were written in your book
The Creator of creators
You...
With intricate detail
The universe designed
With infinite patience
You wait for mankind's response
With an unending love
You reach out to your creation
The Definition of Love
You...
An image of you
We advance in this world
A copy of you
We create fascinatingly
The fragrance of you
As we love, smile and cry
The object of your affection
Us...
You've given us your creation
to rule and live in and enjoy
You've given us your son
who proved his love in death
You've given us your spirit
who raises us the same way he rose the son
A father,friend,comforter,saviour
God...
We have removed you
After all did man not climb the moon?
We have replaced you
My agenda, romance, ideas too important
We have abandoned you
Of what use is a 2000 year old book
Creation denied their creator
You...
Open the eyes of our heart
So we can see your glory again
Speak to the ears of our heart
So we may discern your truth
Soften the hard parts of our heart
In every part may there be room for you
Oh God may we as your people return to you
Return...
You said that if we'd return to you
In you the fatherless will find compassion
If we do not worship what our hands have made
You will heal and love us freely
You say if we will walk in your ways
To us you'd be like dew
The Lord,gracious and compassionate
Slow to anger and abounding in love
God...
Chandré De Wet, 16 May 2007
Scriptures Used:
Psalm 103
Hosea 14
Psalm 139
Gen 1-3
Psalm 51:17
Psalm 53
Proverbs 16:9
then also
* Scripture on how he will turn our hearts of stone into flesh
* 1 John - God is Love
Monday, May 14, 2007
My definition of words
(oh Definition is another word that will pretty soon have my own explaination)
intention, motives, the art of translation, action
my new prayer is Lord help me to translate intention to action, I dont want to just have good intentions anymore, but let my good intention translate in a life of action. Investigate my heart, show me what is of you and what is not show me the true motives of my heart, so i may deal with what isnt from you.
transformation - I learnt a new meaning of this word on a camp recently and its stuck.
they spoke of reform( you changing the old to something new), conform (you copying existing patterns you see) and transform (God changing you from the inside out) So transformation, Change not coming from me but God changing me
radiant/radiate - I still need to decide which of these words I like more. radiant will mean that i am already radiating/shining/passing on whats inside, glowing, drawing others, and therefore radiant. but radiate would be the verb and therefore choosing that one would make me be aware that I need to and not just accept that I already am
expression, of course what's inside coming out, in word, deed, my life, my expression
intention, motives, the art of translation, action
my new prayer is Lord help me to translate intention to action, I dont want to just have good intentions anymore, but let my good intention translate in a life of action. Investigate my heart, show me what is of you and what is not show me the true motives of my heart, so i may deal with what isnt from you.
transformation - I learnt a new meaning of this word on a camp recently and its stuck.
they spoke of reform( you changing the old to something new), conform (you copying existing patterns you see) and transform (God changing you from the inside out) So transformation, Change not coming from me but God changing me
radiant/radiate - I still need to decide which of these words I like more. radiant will mean that i am already radiating/shining/passing on whats inside, glowing, drawing others, and therefore radiant. but radiate would be the verb and therefore choosing that one would make me be aware that I need to and not just accept that I already am
expression, of course what's inside coming out, in word, deed, my life, my expression
Friday, May 4, 2007
B4 God Worship Conference
Adding todays info before yesterday, may add that in later.
Friday Night Session: Pastor Fred May, Shofar Christian church.
Tonight felt like up until now I've been saying God I wanna do your will and everything I've done up to now has been like getting my army clothes, putting on my pants, boots, taking my sword, my helmet, and now tonight standing before God, but even though I stood there thinking I am ready, Standing before him, I realise my clothes need to be realigned. And so that was what tonight was to me, as if God is making my sleeves straight, pulling the pipes of my pants right, tying my shoe lace, putting on my helmet straight, Taking what's already on me and aligning it to what he wants. Almost like you thought you've arrived but actually all this worship and fasting up to now has just brought you to a place where you can hear what I wanna say.
In the beginning of the year I asked God that this would be the year I mature in him, and it's really been a different year as such... Its so amazing how u can be saved for 8 years and really see how far u still have to Go, and I dont think it's always that things take long its that somewhere along the line we get comfy or we chase after our own things or we go back to the things God took us away from and he has to come teach us all over agian, or we just get lazy, we dont press in as we should.Then the church arranges a fast and conference, and somehow our mind kicks into action and we find ourselves at a place where we are hearing God clearer. It shouldnt take a conference to do this but it seems to work for many. The real test is after the conference though.
Anyway back to tonights thoughts (I may have lost my notebook so need to get it down)
Today was humbling. It was abotu how the meek will inherit the earth. It was about taking your inheritance, God made you to have dominion over every area, to advance his kingdom, even in the parts of your heart that sin still reigns, but at the same time to do it with him. That he is with us to help us do what we need to do. A friend HK always sings " I never promised you a rose garden " And thats too with Christ...He never promised us a rose Garden in fact in Romans it says we will also share in his sufferings. We need to know that we may face some lions dens, some persecution, some people defaming our character, people getting nervous and reacting to us when we try and reach them or do His will, but that is just part of the package, we need to be meek in those moments and continue to love them knowing that God is with us and advancing his kingdom.
He gave a great definition of meekness, he called it something to do with contrast, it's like people may call you a runaway thief, or whatever till they meet you and somehow all that they heard and said just does not match up with the person they see in front of them. Its the picture of Christ standing infront of Pilate, bloody, beaten to a pulp, yet with such authority that Pilate wasnt prepared for. Jesus Hanging dyeing on a cross and then the soldies response was Surely this was the son of God. It's not going to be easy to do God's will, the kingdom stuff, but with Him we can be meek, and we must move forward and leave mediocrity behind.
As we fear God, people will fear us, and we need to continue to love them. (like for me at work, the more I am trying to build relationships,the more people are making rude comments and jokes toward me that wasnt there before, but I recognize now that this is just the enemy trying to stop me from continuing to press forward so I will not give up, and I know God is alive and real, and it is his will that they knwo him, so I will continue to press in and love regardless of the circumstance.
Ok thats just some of the stuff, from my head...But my own revelations from tonight:
The Lord is the glorious King of Kings.He is holy, He is in Control, He is the Lord. I need to learn more kingdom stuff. And ja, this is all serious stuff, and that God drew me to him so that he could use my life to advance his kingdom, wherever I am and go and with whoever i speak, me and Him are able to penetrate the hard places. And when I get resistance, or issues, I just have to continue to love, continue to be humble, continue to reach out, because that resistance, hurtful words, etc. it comes with the package. The fact that I am saved in this home, means that this home will change, that the kingdom of God has come to this home. because Jesus lives in me. I gotta keep trying, keep pressing, keep trusting, keep praying, keep building, keep humbling, keep loving, keep reaching out, keep believeing, keep advancing, keep my eyes focused on Him, keep growing in/with the Holy Spirit...
Prayer.
Oh Lord you are totally amazing and awesome. I stand in awe of your plans for us Lord, and I see that one cannot see that when one is listening to all sorts of voices in my head and in my life to preach to me, but Lord when we take the time out and lay somethings down and really seek your face, and quieten our souls and search for you, (not wonder am I going to hear you speak to me to Lord, but just silence that doubt)
Oh Father you are trully awesome. Thankyou for loving me through my worst moments. Thankyou for drawing me to your heart. Thank you for listening to me. Thank You Lord.
Lord I just wanna ask that what you do in me doesnt remain with me, but you will by Your Spirit lead and teach me how to pass this on. Lord I pray that I will radiate your Son. Lord I pray that I will pass on Your testimony from a life that is flowing with you.
I thank you so much Lord, that God you havent forsaken me, but you continuously bring me back to this place of surrender, of grace and of mercy.
Lord I pray for hardened hearts right now Lord, I stand in the gap and I ask God that trully like rain you will soften their hearts father, Like rain gently drizzles on the earth, may you cover every dry area, and soften every hard place, Lord, and continue, and continue until Lord a layer of your love covers them and more until Lord they are filled and flooded bye you (Eph 3 Amp),and from there, may this river continue to change and reach every area of society. Father may people see you. Reveal yourself to them Lord, meet with them, Lord, even with Me Lord, keep in touch, thank you that you always are reachable Lord. I love you and I just lift up your Name now Jesus.Jesus you are the name above every other name. Lord and your name is exalted throughout the earth...Jesus, you are the risen Lord, you are my king and my love.
Love u Lord...
Amen
Friday Night Session: Pastor Fred May, Shofar Christian church.
Tonight felt like up until now I've been saying God I wanna do your will and everything I've done up to now has been like getting my army clothes, putting on my pants, boots, taking my sword, my helmet, and now tonight standing before God, but even though I stood there thinking I am ready, Standing before him, I realise my clothes need to be realigned. And so that was what tonight was to me, as if God is making my sleeves straight, pulling the pipes of my pants right, tying my shoe lace, putting on my helmet straight, Taking what's already on me and aligning it to what he wants. Almost like you thought you've arrived but actually all this worship and fasting up to now has just brought you to a place where you can hear what I wanna say.
In the beginning of the year I asked God that this would be the year I mature in him, and it's really been a different year as such... Its so amazing how u can be saved for 8 years and really see how far u still have to Go, and I dont think it's always that things take long its that somewhere along the line we get comfy or we chase after our own things or we go back to the things God took us away from and he has to come teach us all over agian, or we just get lazy, we dont press in as we should.Then the church arranges a fast and conference, and somehow our mind kicks into action and we find ourselves at a place where we are hearing God clearer. It shouldnt take a conference to do this but it seems to work for many. The real test is after the conference though.
Anyway back to tonights thoughts (I may have lost my notebook so need to get it down)
Today was humbling. It was abotu how the meek will inherit the earth. It was about taking your inheritance, God made you to have dominion over every area, to advance his kingdom, even in the parts of your heart that sin still reigns, but at the same time to do it with him. That he is with us to help us do what we need to do. A friend HK always sings " I never promised you a rose garden " And thats too with Christ...He never promised us a rose Garden in fact in Romans it says we will also share in his sufferings. We need to know that we may face some lions dens, some persecution, some people defaming our character, people getting nervous and reacting to us when we try and reach them or do His will, but that is just part of the package, we need to be meek in those moments and continue to love them knowing that God is with us and advancing his kingdom.
He gave a great definition of meekness, he called it something to do with contrast, it's like people may call you a runaway thief, or whatever till they meet you and somehow all that they heard and said just does not match up with the person they see in front of them. Its the picture of Christ standing infront of Pilate, bloody, beaten to a pulp, yet with such authority that Pilate wasnt prepared for. Jesus Hanging dyeing on a cross and then the soldies response was Surely this was the son of God. It's not going to be easy to do God's will, the kingdom stuff, but with Him we can be meek, and we must move forward and leave mediocrity behind.
As we fear God, people will fear us, and we need to continue to love them. (like for me at work, the more I am trying to build relationships,the more people are making rude comments and jokes toward me that wasnt there before, but I recognize now that this is just the enemy trying to stop me from continuing to press forward so I will not give up, and I know God is alive and real, and it is his will that they knwo him, so I will continue to press in and love regardless of the circumstance.
Ok thats just some of the stuff, from my head...But my own revelations from tonight:
The Lord is the glorious King of Kings.He is holy, He is in Control, He is the Lord. I need to learn more kingdom stuff. And ja, this is all serious stuff, and that God drew me to him so that he could use my life to advance his kingdom, wherever I am and go and with whoever i speak, me and Him are able to penetrate the hard places. And when I get resistance, or issues, I just have to continue to love, continue to be humble, continue to reach out, because that resistance, hurtful words, etc. it comes with the package. The fact that I am saved in this home, means that this home will change, that the kingdom of God has come to this home. because Jesus lives in me. I gotta keep trying, keep pressing, keep trusting, keep praying, keep building, keep humbling, keep loving, keep reaching out, keep believeing, keep advancing, keep my eyes focused on Him, keep growing in/with the Holy Spirit...
Prayer.
Oh Lord you are totally amazing and awesome. I stand in awe of your plans for us Lord, and I see that one cannot see that when one is listening to all sorts of voices in my head and in my life to preach to me, but Lord when we take the time out and lay somethings down and really seek your face, and quieten our souls and search for you, (not wonder am I going to hear you speak to me to Lord, but just silence that doubt)
Oh Father you are trully awesome. Thankyou for loving me through my worst moments. Thankyou for drawing me to your heart. Thank you for listening to me. Thank You Lord.
Lord I just wanna ask that what you do in me doesnt remain with me, but you will by Your Spirit lead and teach me how to pass this on. Lord I pray that I will radiate your Son. Lord I pray that I will pass on Your testimony from a life that is flowing with you.
I thank you so much Lord, that God you havent forsaken me, but you continuously bring me back to this place of surrender, of grace and of mercy.
Lord I pray for hardened hearts right now Lord, I stand in the gap and I ask God that trully like rain you will soften their hearts father, Like rain gently drizzles on the earth, may you cover every dry area, and soften every hard place, Lord, and continue, and continue until Lord a layer of your love covers them and more until Lord they are filled and flooded bye you (Eph 3 Amp),and from there, may this river continue to change and reach every area of society. Father may people see you. Reveal yourself to them Lord, meet with them, Lord, even with Me Lord, keep in touch, thank you that you always are reachable Lord. I love you and I just lift up your Name now Jesus.Jesus you are the name above every other name. Lord and your name is exalted throughout the earth...Jesus, you are the risen Lord, you are my king and my love.
Love u Lord...
Amen
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