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Nobody worries about Christ as long as he can be kept shut up in
churches. He is quite safe inside. But there is always trouble
if you try and let him out.
-- G. A. Studdert Kennedy
A Christian……..a follower of Christ……how do you follow Christ? How do you love Christ? Whose will………His will? How do you hear Him when He speaks? Do you hear Him? Do you listen?
Which are you…….one like the woman caught in adultery……..or the prideful scorner hurling stones?
Are you like the humble tax collector who comes before God admitting your brokenness……….or are you like the Pharisee…..better than the broken one?
Are you saved? You know the beginning…….you know the ending…….but what comes between?
What does this mean?
Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
What does it mean to you?
I have to admit, there is nothing easy in being a follower of Christ. It’s easy being saved, easy reading the Bible, going to church, praying but when it comes to actually living our belief and faith……we fail miserably.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
I have taken these two verses to heart in a big way. Because being a follower of Christ is sometimes burdensome. Giving up your desires for His desires, asking for His will in your life as opposed to your own….this is not an easy thing. But He equips us, and gives us the strength we need to walk the walk with Him.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
When you ask God to create in you a clean heart…….it means sometimes He has to break you down, bring you to your knees……..and it hurts! Coming face to face with God with all your brokenness has got to be one of the most painful things you will ever do….but I can tell you from the depth of my heart that it is the most spirit refreshing thing you will ever do!
The closer you draw to God, the lonlier you feel as a Christian. There is nothing sadder than talking with a fellow believer about the wonders of the Holy Spirit, the amazing grace of God, and they look at you with glazed eyes. I know this because I too once stood with glazed eyes, just “not getting it”. When I talk about listening to His Word while I sleep, or listening to His Word on my IPOD as I walk, other Christians look at me as though I am whacko!
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
What does that verse mean to you? It means exactly what it says to me.
And if we are mocked for loving God this way……….who is being mocked……is it me………is it God’s work in me……..is it God Himself?
Mt. 11:15
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| HAPPY 4TH OF JULY MY FELLOW AMERICANS!!!! |
Jul 4, 2008 4:35 pm
89 Views | C'mon I have the right to say that coz I am after all an American....albeit an honorary one!!!
I did my patriotic duty to the US...yesterday was the 4th here in Australia, so I took some Reese peanut butter cups, hershey kisses and a couple of cans of A&W root beer, my American flag, my American flag washcloth (in case I needed to wipe my fevered brow!) and my American flag plastic party cups........
I took them all in to work and forced my co workers to join in the celebration!!! What's more....I only ate one hershey kiss, half a peanut butter cup and a small drink of root beer. I was determined to have a servant heart about this....even though I was drooling over those chockies!!!!
Anyways my friends at work know I am an American wannabe and they already think I am half whacko so I didn't have to be concerned about pulling out all stops!!! My blonde on the insideness carried me through in fine form!!!
Oh I wish I was in the good ol USA 
I am soooooooooo homesick for you!!
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12 Comments | |
| MY JESUS, MY SAVIOUR |
Jul 4, 2008 2:43 pm
70 Views | I'm sure you can identify with this....
I love it how precious this beautiful Saviour is..the times I fall, I fall so hard and I break so hard.....I call out to Him in desperation and He comes to me and ministers to me. He applies healing balm to my soul.....I FEEL Him ministering to me!
Then He slowly strengthens me until I reach a point where I can stand up, kind of wobbly at first, but then life giving strength flows through my veins.....
Then He says, "ok my child...we have work to do"!
I love it that He is so patient with me, so gentle, so tender. How could I ever fathom this kind of love?
He equips me.....
This morning I woke up with such sadness, especially for Sharon, the patient who died. I pray her soul was saved at the 11th hour....I can't bear to think of her not being in the arms of Jesus. It tears at my heart.
I also feel this incredible "belly burning" to draw Christians who are lukewarm closer to Him. So many don't know the true joy that comes with being totally "in love" with Him, so close you can feel His breath on your face....I have a yearning....
ps I am so behind looking at posts...I feel deprived LOL.....hopefully this weekend I can do some catching up...I miss hearing what you have to say!  It's been tough getting back to work and doing five days straight...I am really tired at night...still getting my physical strength back up to scratch! | |
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4 Comments | |
| Venture out......... |
Jul 3, 2008 3:04 am
171 Views | The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps - we must step up the stairs. -- Vance Havner
I found this quote today and I really like it. It inspires me! I think sometimes you just have to step out in faith. Too many visionaries gave up when the going got tough, and never got to live to see the dream.
I pray I have the wisdom and the insight to see clearly the things God will have me do. I pray that each time I step out of the boat, it will be with bravery and hope!
I pray the same for you!
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11 Comments | |
| Sorry I haven't been myself |
Jul 2, 2008 1:45 am
243 Views | I've had an angry spirit these last couple of days and it doesn't feel very good, so I need to apologise.
I was angry coz I had written the post to show God's power and glory and it dismayed me that the focus got turned onto me. I guess some of the comments hurt me too.
I know the comments were made with love and I ask your forgiveness for having these angry thoughts.
I know who I am and who I am in Christ and I guess when the chips are down that is really all that matters to me. I guess people will always perceive the way they see it, and that's ok coz I am secure enough to know what is truth about me and what isn't.
Anyways the thing is I love you all so very much and I don't want to have any angry or negative thoughts about anyone here. So please please forgive me ok?
The patient that I visited, Sharon, well she died this morning. It's been a tough day. I guess I just have to deal with it and know that the days will get better and God has His hand on me, so everything will be ok. | |
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16 Comments | |
| DEAR GOD, CAN I HAVE A PACKAGE OF JOY THIS WEEK? |
Jun 29, 2008 2:11 pm
356 Views | A garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness....
It's been a tough week, in a tough month, in a tough few months...a time of challenge, and I pray a time of growth...coz the result of tough times is always growth!
This last week, a week of burdens to carry...the patient I love so dearly who is slowly losing her life. Another story I haven't shared...a five year old boy was horribly injured in a freaky road accident a few weeks ago, he lost his battle early last week. I found out a couple of days ago that he is the son of one of my favourite surgeons in the clinic. I worked for his mother a few years ago in another clinic and I have met little Will and even cuddled him.
Too much sadness and too much bad stuff...I don't like it at all.
There have been little blessings along the way...praise God, He is so good to me...I can't even begin to fathom the love He gives.
But today is Monday, I am getting ready for work..it's a new week and this morning I prayed that no matter what, I may hold on to JOY. I already have that, deep in my heart, it never leaves me, hope never leaves me.
This morning a song on my lips, I was singing it in the shower just now...
Lord You are Good
And your mercy endureth forever
Lord You are good
And your mercy endureth forever
People from every nation and every tongue
From generation to generation
We worship you
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
We worship you for who you are.
We worship you
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
We worship you for who you are
And You are Good.
You are good all the time
and all the time, You are good. | |
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15 Comments | |
| I'M A WARRIOR WOMAN ON MY PLANET! |
Jun 29, 2008 2:22 am
465 Views | Remember how hesitant I was to write my last post? I am so glad I did, because let me tell you very plainly....spiritual warfare is very real and the devil does attack.
I have been a Christian for 15 years. I am discerning enough to know an attack when I see one, and strong enough in my faith to call out to the One who can protect me.
But there are people amongst us, new to the faith who are so very vulnerable, unaware of the power within them to resist the devil.
God's timing amazes me, His workings amazes me...and yes He does move in mysterious ways!
I had coffee with a young woman today, a very new Christian. She is hungry to learn, yet still lacking in any knowledge or wisdom.
She told me that friends had encouraged her to join some form of spiritual group so that she could have more fellowship. So she looked in the yellow pages for spiritual groups and joined one......unfortunately the type of spiritual she joined was not the same kind of spiritual we know!
These people happened to be "white witches" and they have spent the last few months manipulating the mind of this young woman. They have told her she is worthless, she is surrounded by darkness, the list goes on.
Because they called themselves spiritual, her naive understanding led her to believe they were of God. How sad is this???
Once she realised that this was not a healthy group to be in, she has tried to break away, but they have been harrassing her and causing a lot of harm to her fragile faith.
We had a long talk, I shared my story of the other night with her and I assured her that she is covered by the blood of the Lamb, and all she needs to do is call on Jesus for protection and believe that He is indeed protecting her.
We talked at length, and I have assured her that I will be praying for her. I've also encouraged her to be baptized.
Now how timely was this?
Most of my Christian walk was one of complacency, being fed a milky gospel. I was never taught about spiritual warfare, the power of the Holy Spirit, God's justice etc.
Sadly, a lot of churches skim over these things and concentrate on the gospel of love, and forgiveness and all things nice.
If the gospel of Christ is not taught in it's entirety then sadly the children of God are not being equipped to deal effectively with the challenges that arise, and some Christians fall apart when the rubber hits the road.
You know the really tragic thing that I found? God had to yank me out of the fellowship I belonged to....He had to lead me out into the desert for a little one-on-one and teach me some realities of what it means to take up my cross and follow Him. Because if He had not done that, I would still, to this day, been stagnating in a la la Christian walk.
The risk I take of pouring my heart, my weaknesses, my failings, my flaws on these blogs, of sounding like some emotionally unbalanced cuckoo clock are so worth it! I will gladly look like a fool, a fruitcake, if it makes a difference to even one person of the magnificence and glory of this amazing God we worship.
I am sensitive, I hurt and break so very easily, I am emotional, I cry often, I am weak sometimes...I fall often, but when it comes to my faith in God, my love for Him.....I am like flint.
And for anyone who so blithely states that the devil is to be ignored coz you are immune to attack....I challenge you to step out of your comfortable church life and head on out to the frontline coz that is where the battleground is. But you better make sure you are well and truly equipped because if you think you are immune to fiery darts...you are in for a rude awakening.
I'm not afraid of the devil because I worship a God whose power is matchless, but it does not stop the devil from attacking me. I rest in the knowledge that when I am weak then He is strong, when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death....I can fear no evil coz His rod and staff comfort me.
Forgive me for going on and on about this, but the plain truth is I have been under attack for a while now, and the events of the other night, coupled with what I encountered today has given me renewed vigour to speak out on this subject.
I am tired of armchair Christianity. We are in the last days and the god of this world has stepped up his campaign....we need to be equipped to fight fire with fire, and we need some reality.
Thanks for listening!
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25 Comments | |
| Tell me Tawanda Tawanda Tawanda |
Jun 27, 2008 5:49 pm
475 Views | Just wanted to say thank you to those of you who constantly lift me up in prayer.
Satan tries to buffet but he can't destroy what belongs to God!
It has been a remarkable few days where I have felt cocooned in a blanket of protection. I wasn't even able to do much thinking. It's as if God took over my thoughts and held them captive in His embrace.
Last night I found myself crying, "Lord I always stuff up, I always mess up"...and He says...."shhh child, rest in me...I carry your burdens...you are my child....I am your God".
This morning confirmation and assurance...I am the apple of His eye! How beautiful He is!!  He will accomplish what He started.....He is the perfecter of my faith!!!
He fills me with overwhelming gratitude...His grace so amazing!
There was so much turmoil that satan wrought, but God never gives us more than we can bear...He brings healing rain on parched soil..wonderful Saviour! Lover of my soul!
Mat 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
Mat 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Mat 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Mat 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Sometimes I am TAWANDA warrior woman......sometimes I am just a silly donkey...but LOL...God has used a donkey in the past! I may sink sometimes but I will always take that step out of the boat! | |
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14 Comments | |
| PLEASE PRAY - I'M SICK AGAIN |
Jun 24, 2008 3:19 am
767 Views | | I need urgent prayer. I am so sick. My body is under attack and I don't have any energy left to fight. Please pray for me. I can't take much more of this. | |
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28 Comments | |
| my sinus cleansing soup...... |
Jun 23, 2008 6:22 pm
599 Views | I made this soup last night and it was so yummy, I am going to share the recipe.....
COCONUT, SWEET POTATO AND SPINACH SOUP
2 tablespoons butter
500g sweet potatoes, cut into cubes
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon medium curry paste (I used a Thai red curry paste)
2 1/2 cups coconut milk
juice of 1 lime
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed chillies
3 cups shredded fresh spinach
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1. Melt the butter in a saucepan and fry the sweet potatoes, onion, garlic, ginger and curry paste for 5 minutes or until lightly golden.
2. Add the stock, coconut milk, lime juice and chilli. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are tender.
3. Leave the soup to cool a little, then puree half of it with a hand-held blender. Return the puree to the pan, add the spinach and cook for 1-2 minutes, until the spinach has just wilted and the soup has heated through. Season to taste.
BON APPETIT!
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| To link to this blog (ms_warriorthingy) use [blog ms_warriorthingy] in your messages. |
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