I was packing my things last night and as I was putting my journals in the box I saw my journal back in Africa and I remember the letter we did as an exercise how to hear God by Mama Pamela. I remember crying out the whole day that day because I couldn’t believe God will say that to me. So, Kirsten came to visit me and I was just sharing to her the story and then I said, actually I did that exercise earlier before in our prophetic elective class and Adrienne gave us a couple of minutes to find a place where we can meet God and write down our conversation. We were all shocked for a moment and totally got no idea how to start. So, I went to the big Balboa “Elephant” tree, sat down under it and looked at the sky. Lie down a little bit and started thanking God for the sky and the words just came and my hands just kept on writing like I don’t even have the control of my own self. It’s funny that it was written at the very back of the same journal and I shared it to Kirsten and I was thinking should I share this? After our conversation last night and my devotion this morning I felt I need to share it. So, my conversation with God goes like this, Me: “That is super weird God! You are just so awesome! I was just lying down here thinking if You will protect me from the ants that can bite me, then You instantly comforted me with those gorgeous clouds, it is moving so graciously and beautifully with this patterns, peace and calmness! God: “This is how am I moving in your life. No hurry my chid! Take it slow! It is ‘I’ that will move you.” Me: “But God sometimes I just want to be like those birds and fly and see until where I get.” God: “But you will surely get tired! Yes, you can fly as long as you can and as high as you want but you will get tired! Wait until I move you.” Me: “I’m sorry Lord! Forgive me! Soak me with the tenderness of Your Love and stillness of Your voice.” And suddenly Lord I can only see clear sky, so BLUE! It’s awesome! And those leaves are so beautiful. How come I never see that before? God: “Because you only see what you chose to see.” Me: “So, what else I should expect Lord?” God: “Sometimes you just need to be like that TREE, standing still there, waiting for me to provide and pour out, because I will.” Me: “God I know that Your thoughts are higher. Do it Your way, Lord! I surrender! I give to You all my expectations! All Yours Lord!” I need to go back! As I was sharing that to Kirsten last night when she visited me I stand up and look outside the window and suddenly the Holy Spirit just crashed in and I opened my mouth and said, it’s cool and weird that God gave me a comparison of a tree and why I suddenly read this conversation today? (looking outside) The tree when it’s newly planted in the backyard it’s life and growth depends on watering it every day but as it grows as a tree nobody water it anymore but fully dependent on the natural source of food from God himself. The sunlight and rain that comes from God. When a tree is healthy from the inside you will see the outcome from the outside. You will see rich green leaves. But when a tree is not healthy and dry from the inside, you will see it as well in the outside. It will be covered with brown leaves and dry trunk fighting for survival. When a tree is healthy it will bear fruit when the season is right. But if a tree is not healthy from the inside it will not bear fruit even the season already came. I sat down and I realized that it’s biblical. There is verse in the bible about a tree planted in the riverside I told Kirsten. Instantly in mind I was reminded that whatever experience and encounter we had it has to be evaluated by the scripture. The encounter must match the bible. I realized as well that it is very symbolic. Jesus is the tree of life and we have to be imitators of Him. This morning I resume to where I Stopped in the Gospel of Mark and surprisingly it is the interpretation of the sower and the types of the soil and the parable of the growing seed in Mark 4:13-32. When I got to v26-28, “The Parable of the Growing Seed 26 And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. 28 For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.” I was remined that once our responsibility is to scatter the seed but God will do the rest. I remember my conversation with Kirsten last night. I was reminded both that when I was new, my mentor put a seed on me and watered it for a while but then afterwards I have to be that tree in full knowledge of what God can do on His own. So, I searched for the verse I mentioned to Kirsten and here it goes, Psalm 1:3 (NKJV) 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. When I had that conversation with God I totally did not meditated back what He meant. I also got no idea back then that He will move me somewhere else after more than a year now. But I guess God always knew the right time I need to process His word. I decided I will paint Psalm 1:3. Art is one form of worship and I am so glad that God gave me this moment today to reflect on what kind of tree I want to be. I want to be the tree in Psalm 1:3. When you read the full context of it you will love even more to be that tree. 😊
#NoToShortcuts Psalm 57:2 "I cry out to God Most High,to God who fulfills his purpose for me." #GodFulfillsNotMe #GodsPromiseGodsWay
I was watching the 3rd in the #bArsandBattles series of Ps Steven which is #CuttingCorners and it speaks about God fulfilling His promise to us in His own way and His own time. It's not our responsibility to make it happen but to be faithful and faith-filled in serving to where we are NOW. It is awesome to get a Promise from the Lord but we don't take a partial promise or a piece of the bible and claim it as a promise without understanding the context, situation and the process the promise came about. It is very true. Nowadays we love doing cherry pick verses wherein we just take something out from the bible because it sounds good but did not read the whole thing. David got a promise to be the next King but he don't need to climb to get there. God #Pick him up #SERVING where he is at the moment, in a #shepherds #pen. When God gives us a #promise #itDoesNotMatterWhereWecameFrom #WhatWearecalledForMattersMore but there is more that where we came from and where we are going that is #HowWegetThere! In 1 Samuel 24:1-6 It showed how #David Honoured the promise of the Lord by doing the right thing and not taking the matter to his own hands to get where he is called to. I am thankful how God spoke this at this time because I need to hear it. When David felt guilty of cutting the corner of the robe of King Saul when he is in his vulnerable situation David felt guilty about it. That is not the kind of man he is. He will not become someone he is not in the pursuit of what he wants to be. It is Gods' job to get us there. V3-6 3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relievehimself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4 The men said, “This is the day the Lordspoke of when he said[b] to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” He knew to honour authority despite of how cruel King Saul maybe and despite the fact that King Saul wants to kill him. He leave that to God. Anyways he will still be a king at the end as we all know but David have not seen it yet that time but he believes on what God can do and it has proven his character. #ItIsnotJustaboutGettingTherebutHowyouGetThere. #NotEveryOpportunityisFromGodbutsomeAreTest. #SomeThingsWeshouldnotDoJusttoGetsomething. #WhyjustcutAcornerWhenGodWantsToGiveTheWholeThingInTheRightTime? I can totally relate. There is such powerful peace from within when you know God is working out everything. When you can see God in every process. When you have sought the blessings of your elders, of your church when you got a promise from the Lord. There is something special about honouring the process for God to schedule the promise. When I shouted a Nation when we were asked in Africa and got a land stick or marker, i wanted to return it because I didn't want the Nation that came out from my mouth. It was never me, at first I did not want to go. It took me more than a year. But God knows what He is doing. God knows when and how. It was all just right in time and place. If I look back 6 years ago I never thought I will be in Mission Field but God knows so He trained and equipped me. I am thankful I did not fully know until 2014 because I might freak out if I got the whole picture while I'm just a new believer. But it's 2017 now. Did I already knew what I need to do back in 2014? God knows I need to prepare my WHOLE BEING FOR IT. He always know. There is no rush with God. He put things all in sequence. We can't put God in our own time schedule. I have gone through a lot while in preparation but God made me through it. When I got sick again last month and got to go for my 4th surgery, did I question God? Yes I did. Did I cry? Yes I did. Was it painful? Absolutely! But I knew I am just in the right track because like what is in verse 1-2, 1 After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” 2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. "When God has a purpose for you to do something so significant expect for the enemy to send out his special forces. That might be why your life is so hard, not because God is not with you but because God is so distinctively with you, maybe His plans for your life is so intimidating and threatening to the devil that no way that the devil will let you ascend to your purpose without an attack. That might be why you are fighting right now." - Ps Steven Furtick It is one thing to know what you are called for but another thing to know what do to about it. Let God be God. It is Gods' purpose He will make it happen. When you feel so stressed out making it happened tendency is God did not asked you to do it to be stressed out! When you know you are just right where you need to be in just the right time you will rejoice in the midst of suffering! I know that for a fact. Because God is good All the time but we will only be able to know that when we are in His presence. It will hurt but it's worth it! #Escape! Everyone has their way to escape. We all do. But to where we go when we escape may get us into greater captivity. The Best place to Go is in the secret place where God is. He is our refuge! He is our strength! I was watching the series of Ps Steven about #barsandBattles & today it's about #SetUpInStrongHold The place, the #strongHold where we choose to hide in times of #troubles will never protect us that Long. The stronghold is just good for a season. It is a Setup! But we can't stay there. Ps Steven said, "Don't stay in the stronghold! It #protects you but it also #TRAPS you." We may have ways to protect ourselves to get hurt again from all the experiences from the past but God never wants us to stay away from those and bypass our emotions! We need to process it & GO THROUGH IT,not hide from it or play the blame Game of what's truly going through from within. We need to take the right fight. The fight that only involves ourself & God first. We can't fight the enemy in the same ground! We need to elevate it to the level where GOD IS! I love when I heard this,"some of the best expression of your relationship with GOD will be born NOT when you are crowned in victory but When you are hiding in despair."It is true! Most of my most authentic, unforgettable & remarkable experience,encounter,learning & shift was when I was in the #valley and not in the #mountaintop! But God never taught me to stay hiding in the valley where the mountains can #COVER ME UP! He always teaches me to get it all together while i'm there and start gearing up because we need to climb up together again even the climb can be painful and EVEN THE HEIGHTS MIGHT BRING MORE TROUBLES AGAIN. Davids' reward of winning the battles were more battles and that is very true in our Christian life. It never ends but God as well will never Leave! His presence will never change! So as what He thinks of each and everyone of us! No matter how much we can mess up that will never change His love for us. I am no perfect, nobody is! We are all guilty but God continues to love us perfectly. So we can't hide that long! We need to get up, leave our stronghold and go to JUDAH! 📸in #australia #hotairballoon #1SAmuel22 #Psalm142
I was watching the movie 42 "the story of Jackie Robinsons" and when Mr Ricky asked Jackie Robinson what will he do when the world cursed him or shout you don't belong here and all the bad stuff to upset you will you be able to hold your temper? People will do everything to make you react. What will you do about that? Jackie Robinson stood up angrily and said "Are you asking for a player who doesn't have the guts to fight back?" Mr Ricky to Robinson:
"No. No. I need a man who have the guts not to fight back! I want the world to know two things, that you are a fine gentleman and you ARE A GOOD BASEBALL PLAYER! Can you do that? I need to know if you can do that? LIKE OUR SAVIOUR, YOU NEED TO HAVE THE GUTS TO TURN THE OTHER CHEEK. CAN YOU DO THAT??" The movie was about the first American African who have played in international baseball league on 1947 with the Dodgers. It was a bold and courageous act to break across racism. Obviously it was an eye opener to the whole world and Jackie just fulfilled his calling. I believe God has given that talent to him for the exact reason. But everything comes with a price. He needs to take all those criticism and life threats. But what was amazing was his relationship with Mr Ricky! How their mentorship and father and son relationship was. He honoured the discipline and the advises. It was spectacular. Apart from the great display of humility and self control and to be able to bring change to the world Jackie Robinson did, I love the Man behind the scene. I love how in his old age Mr Ricky never stopped doing what he is called for irregardless if it will shame his own Name. He was called for a purpose. He loves baseball and he wants EVERYONE to be able to be given a fair chance to fall in love with the game. I love how funnily he said when he chose Robinson, "He is a methodist, I am a methodist, I believe God is a methodist. What can possibly go wrong." From the start it's more than just a political issue or just to play smart. It was more than that. One manager called him saying they will not let the Dodgers be in Philadelphia. When they get in a heated conversation Mr Ricky said, "Do you know space jam? What do you mean? said the other manager. Then Mr Ricky continues, I mean when you get to see God face to face and hold an account to you why you did not let Robinson play in your field, your reason of him being a Negro might not be good enough!" Mr Ricky stand for what he believe is right based on the bible. He was also asked why are taking Robinson to the Dodgers and he answered, "God said love your neighbours as yourself. It is Gods' most repeated commandment." I was inspired that against all odds he chose to prove the world what it is to live right in the eyes of God. I was amazed of his faith and determination. He once said "I have a plan. Everybody in baseball is gonna be against me but I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna bring a Negro ball player to the Brooklyn Dodgers, there is no written law about getting a Negro to join a baseball league and a colleague said, "Yes there's no law about that but there's a code, if you break along and get away with it some people will think your smart but after awhile and you did not you will be an OUTCAST. He answered : "SO BE IT." John 15:18-21 The World’s Hatred18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
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AuthorI am an Architect who loves to share my experiences and thoughts. Categories
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