Saturday, July 28, 2007

You are the only one I need!!

I am so excited that we are nearing the end of 2007. You probably think I'm crazy right, like we are in the month of July, just past the middle of the year, what rubbish maths I'm I doing, I'm showing I'm a Math illiterate. LOL.

But the calendar I'm using is the Jewish calendar, which starts in October. So I've decide to do a run down series of the promises God gave me for this 2007, and how He has been faithful in bringing them to pass, even though we have less than two months left. Yey.


The Plan


So when I entered my 2007, I entered it believing it was my year of release. I had survived 2006, and had entered 2007, where seven represented a number for dominion, a number for rest. It was now my year of unbelievable, undeniable, unstoppable favour of God. However prior to entering into it, since I believed that it was my year of such favours, I had to prepare myself. No one goes to a dinner party at the Ritz in a swim wear, one need to make sure they are wearing the proper attire. Therefore the same applies here.


I realised that even though my favour had nothing to do with merit and deeds, my actions can still affect how much of it I get, and therefore I needed a PLAN. What I'm I trying to say?, that the favour of God will rest upon my life as long as I obey Him that sent me, as disobedience causes a reduction of the Favour. Take for example, Jonah - His life was spared (because God loved him anyways), but because he disobeyed he had to continue the rest of his journey in the belly of a fish, when it could have been a first class affair - Jonah 1 vs. 12 -17.


Another example is the life of Asa, King of Judah - 2nd Chronicles 14 - 16. He had ruled for 40 years, most of which He was not at war with anyone. Because he sought the Lord, the Lord gave him rest (2nd Chron. 14 vs. 7b). In seeking the Lord he removed everything detestable in his life that would bring a barrier in his relationship with God, repaired / worked on his broken relationship with God (2nd Chron. 15 vs. 8), and made a covenant with God
(2nd Chron. 15 vs. 14). He was encouraged to continue the work on his relationship with God, because he believed Him faithful who was going to reward his efforts (2 Chron. 15 vs. 7).

However, towards the end he had become complaisant, took God for granted, forgotten all the wonders and good things God did for him, that when he needed help, he sought help elsewhere. In the end he was likened to a man who was running aimlessly (1 Corinth. 9 vs. 26), because one would wonder why all the original efforts if he wasn't going to press on till the finishing line. For I do not want to be that man that preached to many and yet did not qualify for the prize.
Like the pace setters in long distance races that goes into strict training, end up leading the pack, only not to get to the finishing line
.

Therefore, since the eyes of the Lord ranges throughout the earth to strengthen those who are for Him (1 Chron. 16 vs. 9), and show Himself strong, I too want Him to continue showing Himself strong and bringing to pass all His promises for me. For this reason, my plan for 2007 is to be a woman who pleases God so that He will always be with me (2 Chron. 15 vs. 2). So I pray Dear Lord, do not forsake me, even if I do all the time behave rubbishy; for indeed you are all I need.

So dear readers, we still have a couple of months still left, what plan do you have?
Next time I will be touching on how I became successful. I know check me out, thinking am all that!!


UPDATE
I have joined the choir at the church in Verona..hehehe.. I couldn't bear the noise anymore, I am going to show and teach them how its supposed to be done. Had a wonderful first meeting with them yesterday, they know they sound VERY TERRIBLE and are willing to get whatever help needed.

We have started voice training and excercise. YIPPEE. I have just rememeberd I have been placed here for such a time as this. I didn't say I was a great singer, but I have sung in concerts with pros. So here to more work for God.lol.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Group of 23 South Korean Christians Kidnapped

This morning, for no reason at all, I was woken up to pray, but not in a langauge I could understand. All I remembered was the feeling of how weird it was.

I have now received an excerpt from the pastor of my church in manchester concerning:

Group of 23 South Korean Christians Kidnapped at Gunpoint by Taliban Deadline Extended to Tuesday Evening:

please keep them in your prayers. I have recently had this overwhelming feeling to pray more for the saints and the missionaries, and its sad to see this happen.

Please fellow bloggers, lets all pray a prayer of agreement that the Lord will show up for these people.

And like the 3 young Jews in the old testament said to King Nebuchadnezzar in - Daniel 3 vs. 16 -18 - "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." - , regardless of what they do, we will not stop worshipping our God.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

So He Loves me Still

Jeremiah 31 vs. 3 - 4

3 The LORD appeared to us in the past, [Or LORD has appeared to us from afar] saying:
"I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

4 I will build you up again
and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel [life of a stranger].
Again you will take up your tambourines
and go out to dance with the joyful".


Monday, July 16, 2007

UNSUAL Places

So I promised posts from the lessons I’ve learnt previously, but I feel this one is more pertinent for today.

I had to move out of via brenerro very quickly. I had started getting hassled by the street chicas I meet at 11pm on my way home. They never physically attacked me, but they would stare me down and try to intimidate by breaking my walk as I walk on the pavement where they worked. I am told it’s because they think I’m trying to steal their spot. I had promised myself to find an apartment and leave, but I was too lazy to find one, couldn't understand a word of Italian - I have project deadlines no time - and instead of giving a landlord 3 months rent as a deposit, plus another huge amount to activate phone line, electric gas and water I would rather pay it towards my mortgage which I am yet to lease out. So as you can see I am a tight ward and playing with my life.. lolol.. Anyways I met this wonderful family who go out of their way to make sure I am happy - you remember my 21 yrs old friend. So her mum found me a room at her friend’s house, and I moved in. Shoot, all I pay is rent; I’ve given myself till October to find a very nice place.

So where was I,

Yes, it appears that these people I’m staying with found their way to Italy via the mountains of morocco, and because of their very poor poor background got involved with a madam that helped them come here. I remember thinking how far apart our worlds were, and how in normal circumstances I may / would never have walked with them. I pondered on this thought for a while, and I started to wonder was I so proud that I had to be brought down a peg or two, or did I think too much of myself that I am to be taught a lesson. I asked my mum this, and you know how mothers are, she said that I have always thought less of myself and the Lord was using this opportunity to show me how He has favoured me and how much He loves me that He has raised me so high. I felt a little better, but I never stopped thinking of this. I mean I should not judge, so I shouldn't be bothered what these people do with their lives, but then I remembered the saying...show me you companions and I'll tell you who you are..lolol..

So yesterday, it finally all made sense; remember the story of David?

In 1 Samuel 22 vs. 1 – 2 : – David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him – God had used the discontented, the ones with problems, in distress and debt to bless him. He used rejected people to bless David. These people's beginnings were nothing to talk of, yet God used them to secure David's destiny. Even though David was in a cave, hidden from the world - he was sought out. His destiny located him, the favour of God, His mercy and Grace located him. His light shone so brightly that his blessings located him.

I then realised that through my meetings with these people that God was moulding me so that I will be a blessing to others, and that I am in the right location at the right time. That He’s using these people to bless me; Like in Judges 11 vs. 3 - So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a group of adventurers gathered around him and followed him - how God used the people Jephthah will not normally associate with to bless him. And that I am in the right place at the right time - Like the ordinary man in 2nd Samuel 6 vs. 6 - 12;10 He was not willing to take the ark of the LORD to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and his entire household - , whose house the ark of the Lord was left in, because his house just happened to be there.

Therefore, I thank God that He loves me so that He has given me much favour with everyone I meet, even if on the outside it may appear they have nothing to offer. So as I conclude my prayer is to ask God to continue His holding of my hand as I step into the great things He has in store for me in Jesus Name. Amen.

Hope you have a Great week. Mine has already started with a blast.

Monday, July 09, 2007

wait just a little while, its beautiful you'll see....I promise you.

I am encouraged, because God is ever present in my life, and teaching me lessons from whatever activities I undertake. I have always heard from my mum, pastors and friends that I just need to be patient, and its only a matter of "when" before my life as a wanderer is settled. However inspite of this some days were always more difficult than the others, and whenever I would speak negatively I hadn't really realised that I was giving the devil dominion over my words, which ultimately he would always try to use to defeat me.

This is a diversion from the posts I had promised but I really needed to post this. We had a visitor from seattle in our centre, and he was particularly interested in hiking. So I sugessted we go mountain climbing, however, we couldn't decide on time which one to go on, so on the day of the hike chose to climb mount bondone, very close to the village of sardania. We had taken the cable car for 700 meters to get to the village and decided to hike from there. Unbeknown to us (me), the walk was a very steep and dangerous one. Imagine climbing a 5000 storey sky scrapper using a stair case that had no bridges in between (well this example is pale in comparrison to what went on), carrying a back pack with drinks in it. Five minutes into the walk we had lost our path, ended up on another one and was literally walking throught the forest. 100 meters into the mountain hike, I was absolutely exhusted, and could no longer lift myself up. I decided to quit, stop and rest. And asked the rest to go on, while I returned to the cable car. But they encouraged me to walk on. Even at times, they slowed their speed, carried my back pack, which allowed me to find a stick to help with the walk. The walk was steep, slippery and most of the time we were at the edge of mountain, and if I lost my footing was defintaely going down.

Many times during the walk I would tell God, that if I were to fall and die, this would mean sucide cause He never sent me and I was uneccessary putting my life in danger. There were many times that I could no longer walk and gripped with fear, because we had lost the second path and was now in the middle of nowhere on the mountain and it didnt look like anyone had gone through the way we were going before. After 700meters up, 3 paths and 3hrs later we found a deserted village, and a resturant, that only fed people that had booked rooms with them. We found favour with them and they fed us. The next bus from there was in 5 hrs, so the group opted to continue to the top. I was very reluctant to follow them, but seing as I spoke no italian, I wasn't going to be left behind alone. The last walk was the most dangerous of all, but I made it to the top. When I got there, it was the most beautiful scene my eyes had ever behold
.


For the first time in the walk, after 1,200meters climbed and 6hrs of solid climbing, the pain, the tears, the missed footings, the suicide watch, I had finally arrived, and it finally made sense. It was about enduring the walk, the journey, withstanding the pain, and forging ahead. The refusal to be intimidated, the bagages that slowed the pace of my walk, and the crying. The Fears, the indecisveness, the doubts, it finally all made sense. If I had stopped 100meters into my walk, I would never have seen what God had for me at the top.

As I got to the top, I realised that the hike wasn't all about me climbing the mountain of bondone, which had several peaks, but about the journey that is my life, and I had a new revelation. I have a destination, and its a beautiful one, but I just need to push that bit more, lift myself up just that one more, regardless of the weight / bagages I have been carrying, surround myself with encouraging people who are not willing to quit along with me, and know without a shadow of a doubt that I will get there, its only a matter of when. Yes I had heard this messages several times before, but for the first time it really made sense. It really applied to me, it was no longer a sermon, but a trully possible reality. This weekend was yet the best of them all. My end is expected, and wow what an end it would be.

Hope all is well with you, and you have been encouraged. I LOVE it when things like this happen. I sort of mentioned the message to my collegues, who obvioulsy are athiests, and I wasn't sure what they thought of it, but I KNOW what I think of it.

Have a supper week all. I Know I am.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

I have a stalker

There is this silver alfa romeo, that parks under the first street light at the begining of the via brenero road. I have to walk on this road to go to my hotel apartment. The first night I noticed this car, it kept veering off the via brenero road to park as if to ask direction from the passers by, every time I walked alitle past it. But he would say nothing as I walked past. And he repeated this 4 times, parking at the entrance of a shop off the road, and next at the entrance of a petrol station, with his engine running, as if to say here I am.

Anyways after all the veering and sudden parking, I would refuse to look into the car to find out what the madness was. It was the second time that night, a car had stopped. The first was a brand new BMW, and he did say "ciao prego" as I walked past, but my mum taught me not to speak to starngers so I didn't reply.

So last night, I was off to the apartment again, where this same car started of on the original parking space. I hadn't noticed it until when it chimed his keys to make sure I noticed him as I walked past the parked car. I was startled, and looked, and there it was the alfa romeo, and same reg. I became frightened. He repeated his moves, this time was parked so close to the walk way I was sure he was going to mowe me over. As I walked wondering what this man was intending to do, two other cars drove past with the passengers screaming. I started to run. But then I stopped, I said to myself, this is a safe place, obvioulsy this man has mistaken my identity. Only 15 minutes up the road, there were even pretier girls, scantily dressed and he could have any of them, why me.

The nature of the way I've always worked is my mind work better in the evening, and even if I start work at 8am, I actually dont get started till 2pm onwards. So I normally work till 9pm without realising the time. Anyways, I promised my self to leave early today, say 8pm, I wouldn't wish my past few days experience on any one. I am finally begining to think, I'm not as intimidating as I used to be. What has happened. God please deliver from the hands of these people.