Tuesday 20 December 2011

Wilderness can be testing … ok it is testing!

One of the key stories of the wilderness experience is in the book of Exodus when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. The people had times of doubt but God came through every time – even when it seemed like another second and they would be dust … they weren’t because God had a greater plan and destiny for them.

In 1 Corinthians 10, we are reminded that we are to learn lesson’s from their season of wilderness …

“These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Cor 10:11-13

From chapter 13 – the love chapter as we mostly know it, Paul writes - “It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

And in one of my favourite books in the Bible “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12.

Yes, I am going through a wilderness season but as heartbreaking as it is, frustrating as it is, difficult as it is – I have hope, I have truth, I have God. There are lessons that need be learnt, lessons already clearly shown to me that I am well aware of and so thankful for and some more Holy Spirit intervention to be revealed.

I am definitely counting down the days until I head back to a place which has through the years always had my heart and I truly believe that there is a reason for it – what that reason is - ??? But God has got that covered, I’m not going to fret or try to work it out. I’m going to make these last few days count for His Kingdom so that I’m ready for the next step in the journey once I land on that beautiful land that is Singapore.

xoxo


Monday 19 December 2011

Human Nature

Living God's way can sometimes be tough - particularly when stepping outside of His guidance and trying to work things out our own way.

I'm trying to work things out in my head and I can just so sense going "Give it over to me, it is my burden to carry" and I'm going yep no worries, but let me work on it a little longer so then it's not too big to pass across ..

Yup that's right ... we try to lessen the load ... for God??!!! He died for our sins and here we are going, oh let us work it out a little longer and then you can take over ... we can be so stubborn at times!

So, as I get ready to sleep ... I give it to Him ... 100%. I can only do what is in my world to do - how other people respond or how they handle the journey is between them and God. How they view relationships is also out of my control. God calls me to love all people regardless of how I am treated in return ...

Wow ... challenged just before I rest ...

xoxo

Friday 16 December 2011

Staying strong

Well something must be going on in the heavenly realm ...

Another night where I go to bed early ...

Another morning of waking up earlier than expected ... ok let's say less than a 4 hr nap ...

I cannot even try to explain why ... but safe to say God just needs me to hear Him ... be alert ... be stirred and to let go of something that is dear to me and in my journey ... it seems the only way I will give Him my undivided attention is when He gets me up smack in the middle of the night (or in the first few hours of a new day).

Only He can truly see me (which at 1.30am, is a very good thing)

xoxo

Thursday 15 December 2011

God's Plans

In Jeremiah 29:11 it says (MSG):
"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out-plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." ... and this is where many people stop ... but I'll go on ... "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree. "I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you."-God's Decree-"bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it." vv12-14

So I went to bed early to get a good night's sleep (as in, asleep by just after 9pm ... MIRACLE!) and I was very much looking forward to 8 hours of rest. But alas, God had other things in mind ... 2.45am and bang, awake ... totally don't get His sense of humour at times but when He needs my attention ... He'll get it by any means =D!

I read this verse the other day and it's been running around in my head since then as well. God wants us all to know that He has EVERYTHING under control ... yes, things may not make much sense at the moment, whether we are going through the wilderness season or even trying to get through the days facing up to bad choices made previously, He is there. We need not struggle ... we need not try to work out the huh moment, or what can I do to make things  better ... the main things we need to do are:
1. TRUST GOD
2. SEEK GOD
3. OBEY GOD
Only three things ... and the 3rd is usually the stumbling block ... not for rebellious reasons but more that it sometimes requires boldness and to let go of control ... something we humans can grapple with.
In Exodus 3:14 (AMP) "And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you!"
God is the Great I AM - we have NOTHING TO FEAR or WORRY - He has got whatever is on your heart & mind covered. We need to be sensitive to the leading of His Holy Spirit, respond and let Him take control & guide us.

It is all about Jesus at the end of the day ... we are His masterpiece, created for His Glory - nothing will ever take that away.

xoxo

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Learning is a life lesson

Well we are all on a journey, with many lessons to be learnt and also reminding ourselves that learning is something we never stop doing.

At this moment in time, I really am just doing my head in ... I obviously didn't learn the first time so I need to take note of what I didn't quite get last time and make sure I get it this time! Confusing ... YES!!

But what I do know that confusion is not from the Lord - His way which although may not make much sense to our earthly / rational minds, brings clarity, blessing and direction. The enemies plans are to confuse us so that we don't take the path God has called us to or go a different way.

We are called to trust & believe God 100% in and for all things.

Let's hope this resonates sooner rather than later ... I'm getting tired with all these thoughts zooming around my head. he he he

xoxo

Rushing rapids

That is what my mind feels like right at this moment in time.

I am still basking in the overflow of the miracles which took place last week but also acutely aware that life continues to roll on ... it doesn't stop after a miracle!

I'm not sure why but I keep trying to work out a certain situation in my world at the moment. Well it's not really a situation, more like interactions which have the ability to inspire & encourage me to keep going but also turn around and have me question & wonder what on earth is truly going on.

Patience is a virtue which I am still growing and understanding and no doubt when I've made it past the wilderness in this specific area, I will be able to articulate it so that it makes sense.

Well off to sleep ... I hope!

xoxo

Sunday 11 December 2011

Miracles abound!

Wow, what a week it has been!

So after the amazing start to the week, the miracles did truly keep on flowing.

Late Wednesday evening, I had a prompting to go online and check the one fares to Singapore on Boxing Day. So I did and nearly fell off the bed ... LITERALLY! (side note, not so funny if I did!) There were flights from Melbourne leaving Boxing Day to Singapore for $846 ... like huh?! Oh and with Emirates ... a bit more digging it was via Brisbane – meh I thought. If I could get a one way trip nearly $300 less than the ticket I had on hold, I really didn’t care if I was going through Denpasar!

I decided to go to the Emirates site directly and I put a hold on a ticket. Pretty stoked come Thursday morning. On top of that I had to look for a domestic ticket and they were anywhere between $200 to $350 ...eeek! So I held off on the domestic until late Friday afternoon (really hoping that Virgin or Jetstar would have a sale) but no, so I settled on Air Australia where I could get a meal and ticket for $214. Again, totally rapt with that!

BUT the most amazing thing of all ... I spoke with my sis-in-law and she’s going to take me to the airport on Christmas Day after lunch ... yep ... it seems me taking them to the airport for over a decade is being rewarded HA HA!

It seriously has been a week filled with blessings and miracles – none of which I could even imagine this time next week. Believing for a miracle yes definitely (and was pretty much being able to get a ticket back to Singapore) but what has transpired has given me the ability to expect so much more!

I’m more than half way through Priscilla Shirer’s book One in a Million and it is so speaking to me for where I’m at right now. However, being 1.18am it is time for me to sleeeeeep =D.

xoxo