My New Swagger, what a walk!!……..

Going to bed at night have always been the best time of the day for me even though sometimes the hour varies depending on what I choose to do with my evening (surf the net, maybe listen to my iPod, have some fruits then brush my teeth) boring I know but for a while now, I have lived like this, as if to say I was waiting for something to happen. Life on hold while I wait. I’ve always felt that my life was missing something, was never quite sure what it was, except that I was living in moments of transition, that tomorrow would be a better day, maybe then I can start living. Even though I had already asked the Lord Jesus to be my Lord and Saviour for some time now, living like this was still the norm, a life that could be termed half-fulfilled.

I hadn’t realised that what was missing in my life was the fact that I wasn’t exercising the Power I had received through Christ Jesus. - Romans 8:16 – The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children - Luke 24: 49 - I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. And it is this power which is THE KEY that unlocks every inactive area of my life; which enables me to move forward into the other part of the promise. Because of this power that is now resident in me, I am entitled to a life filled with victory, dominion over every situation and circumstance I encounter and have the right to speak things that are not into existence, and life into every dormant area of my life. That I am a powerful individual.

I had forgotten that since the creator of the world is my Father, of whom all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to, that I had the power never again to suffer any form of defeat. I had albeit mechanically memorised some key verses – 1John 4:4 - You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world – Philippians 4:13 - I can do everything through him who gives me strength - but never fully understood it in its entirety. And because I was too busy asking God to give me, give me, give me, I had forgotten to ask for His wisdom, to help me understand what was going on in and around my life.

So what gives you may ask? What happened? Well one day I had had enough of looking forward to my bed, and wanted to know how it felt to have the morning become the best part of my day. I like Jacob decided to wrestle with God until He changed my walk (Gen.32:26), believed James 5:16 – until I was able to cross over to the other side of my promise. And with it I received a new name; through it I received a new walk.

Then I asked the Lord, all these years in waiting, why did it take so long for the promise to be fulfilled, He replied, you did not receive because you did not ask (James 4:2). Then I said Lord, I did ask, but He replied saying, you asked with the wrong motive (James 4:3); and was not willing to pray. I needed you to come to the point that Hannah (1 Sam. 1:10-11) and Jacob did. You were comfortable waiting and I thought what better way than to wait with you. And I thought, You Lord was waiting for me, BUT I was waiting for YOU; at which He replied, I have made everything for your disposal, but I needed you to come into agreement with me, for it to be fulfilled. Can two walk together unless they are in agreement (Amos 3:3). If you had taken action before now, you could have crossed over a long time ago. But you are never late with ME. I thought to myself, what wasted opportunities, but in gratitude thanked God. As I walked away mumbling, the Lord was waiting with me, and for me to act, and here I was waiting for Him, I could have been waiting forever for nothing, at which the Lord replied, faith by itself if not accompanied by action is dead (James 2:17) but because you are precious and honoured in my sight, and because I love you (Isaiah 43:4), I would have allowed a storm to come to cause you to take action. You could never have waited for nothing with ME. So you see why everything (whether positive or negative) works out for your good. At this I stopped my mumbling and walked away beaming and deliriously happy.

The Lord is waiting on you to speak to Him like you’ve never done before and has given you the power to exercise your right; He says He’s coming and with Him your reward (Isaiah 62:11). Why don’t you “wake up” and receive it. Why don’t you open your mouth and speak command and decree and see if He is not able to honour His words and come through for you. Don’t be like those who suffer for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Remember John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. And - Isaiah 3:10 - Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.

People may ask me, of whom do I base my confidence in, why do I walk with a swagger, what does all this mean, I tell them, it is because of the Lord Jesus, indeed He is the Son of the living God. I have tried Him and KNOW that the Lord is good. What will your decision be today? The Choice is up to you.

Who are you listening to?

Growing up in the “Mrs. Life of a stranger’s mum’s” house was chaotic to say the least, 3boys and 4girls, all within the same age range, but mother made sure that not one of us would say we didn’t have our fair share of her “undivided extreme attention”, especially when it came to our education. “Have you studied today……… go and read your books……….hmm, don’t come crying if you fail your exams, which will NEVER happen in this house..; and if we ever tried to rebel against such “harsh conditions”, she had this athletic build where she could chase you down, catch up with you, and drag you to your books. Funny thing was if you were sharp, you would realize studying meant that you were excused from ALL the house chores. I figured this out later on, but I’m sure my younger ones, caught on quite quickly. Could you imagine breakfast, lunch and dinner wherever you were sited as long as you were “pretending to be” working hard. That was indeed the life. As blessed as my parents were, they raised children who listened to and took on board their advice. Even though looking back now, the countless times when I was in some bother or the other, was always as a result of me going against them. Which obviously meant sticking with them was by far the better option.

The bibles tells us about the Importance of seeking good counsel, advice, guidance, direction – [Prov. 20:18; 24:6 (Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance; for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers)]; and if we can take the advice of our parents whom the Lord has placed us under their authority, how much more our Lord Jesus, who has authority over them, and who to us is our Wonderful Counsellor, our Mighty God, our Everlasting Father, our very own Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). We are also told of the importance of accepting and acting upon them. For what we do after we hear them determines the kind of people we are. Are we likened to a fool who shows his annoyance at once, or the sensible one who receives the good counsel (Prov. 12:16; 9:9; 1:8).

I for one know that I am truly blessed to have the Ancient of Days (Dan. 7:9), the King of the whole world, stoop so low as to desire to instruct me in the way I should go. My mum and dad did good with the little they had, how much more if I was to allow God who has been there from the beginning of time guide me – Because I know He will never fail me.

I want to be an observant of His laws, because I know that when I do what He tells me to do, the benefits outweighs the “reimbursement” of disobeying Him (James 1:22; Joshua 1:8; Deut. 28:1-2). I have known the Lord to be faithful, and by trying out His good counsel I have seen for myself where it has led me; which has always been straight to His Heart, which truly is the best place there ever could be.

Dear Lord Let us be people who seek after your Godly counsel, and be doers of them not just hearers in Jesus name. Amen.

UPDATE....
I just LOVE LOVE God. Just wanted to shout that out LOUD. Just incase......lol....

Deut. 30:19-

19 - This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20- and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

A curse that sticks on you, was provoked….. prov. 26:2

where Jesus is... prophesies will come to pass. I receive that.

Living on the other side of the promise

The Oxford dictionary defines promise as: 1 an assurance that one will do something or that something will happen. 2 potential excellence.

Have you been in a situation when someone makes a big promise to you, have you experienced the turmoil of emotions that ensues - the waiting, the anticipations, the badgering, the disturbance, the helplessness that comes in the waiting for the promise to be fulfilled. For some it may take a while for the person to make good on the promise, that’s if they come through that is.

I remember when I was younger than I am now, an award was literally handed over to me on a platter, but I hadn’t really been given it yet, because there were some formality, a process, a series of events that needed to take place prior to it “being officially” given to me. I remember giving a testimony in church, praising and glorifying God, and receiving and claiming it. After all it was mine; it’s just a matter of the bureaucratic process that needed to take place. When the time came for the process to commence, I was told that even though it’s practically mine, I still had to submit an application, a grant proposal, and will have to get it reviewed by the reviewer board and advisory board, and then after it all, only a couple of people “may” be awarded. I asked the organiser to explain to me again, what she meant. She told me, that all the Universities in the UK were participating, and nine have been chosen to submit an application, and only three may be awarded in the end. At which I replied, “I thought this award was practically stamped and delivered to me”. She told me, in principle yes, but it could go either way. I guess that week was probably the worst week of my entire life, and I wondered how I could go back and tell the people that “technically” the testimony wasn’t really complete, and that the award wasn’t really mine yet. You see I had declined all offers, because this award was the mother of all, it gave me access to ANY university in the world to work with, and the world was my playing field - or so I thought!

In reality many of us are in one way or the other waiting on a promise to be fulfilled. A promise made by a fellow man may not come good, but a Promise made by God, is FOR SURE to come to pass. Many of us claim the promises of Abraham to be theirs, yet they forget that Abraham had to go through a process to become the Father of a Great Nation. Even though Abraham was significantly wealthy, could you imagine having to wait for 25 years for God’s promise concerning a Son to come to pass (Gen. 12:2-3; 13:14-16; 17:17; 18:10). That doesn’t even include the waiting before the promise was given. I know, there’s no way I could wait that Long, but He did, and God called him His friend.

……………….. Many of us would have resided to say “ hmm, yeah God promised, but you know maybe we should try and help ourselves (which they did with Hagar), or like the Shunammite woman who didn’t want the prophet Elisha to make her any promises, no point getting her hopes up you know (2 Kings 4:16). Yes we know God is able, but erm, there are levels, maybe He didn’t mean it physically, maybe spiritually ehen the promise will come to pass………lol………………

Hannah was another tormented by her inability to give her husband children, but she had no idea that the Son the Lord was preparing for her was to be the very first prophet that Israel would ever have (1 Sam. 1:6; 3:20). Waiting for the promise of God to be fulfilled is never going to be an easy process. What is it that you are waiting on God for? What promise has the Lord been repeating to you that He will do for you? What is it that Lord been reminding you that is an easy task for Him to do? His word’s reassures us that no matter how long it takes we should wait (Hab. 2:3).

I was so favoured with regards to my award, I only had to wait Six months (without a Job), and even though many proposals were declined, and in reality only three universities out of the whole in the UK was chosen, the reviewers accepted my grant proposal and awarded me the money. It could have gone either way, but because of the Favour of the Lord that was upon me, He brought this promise to pass. God does not show favouritism (Acts 10:34-35), when you see Him coming through on His promises for others, you better rest assured that the promises He made to you will surely come to pass. God is more than able to do exceeding and above that which He says He will do, He is good for it. I have known Him to be faithful and true. The promise may be taking a little while to come on over, but that doesn’t mean its not coming at all.

As for me I have crossed over and have started to live life the way the Lord purposed me to live. The waiting process will never be a pity party occurrence, or a time to dabble in doubt and unbelief. I believe God and that settles it. I choose to live life expectant, knowing fully well that He has done what He says He will do. It’s just a matter of filling the paper work, and presto I’m “outer” here.

Discount on the Treno Express

Hey guys... just wanted to give a just in UPDATE..hehe.. Im off tommorrow evening to the south of Italy for a friend's wedding. I had booked my flight originally which got cancelled and redirected to a different place. The notification was in Italian and English but I couldn't get past the Italian section, so asked for a refund only to find that everyone else I was travelling with took the redirected flight and the airline have now refunded me my money. This all happened when I was taking my much needed trips in August. when I decided to rebook again the price had "quardribbled", and we still had another 300 km left to go (which means cost of hiring a car). In the end, I opted to catch a 12hrs train there and another back. Either way the cost of the journey would still be the same for the origianl flight (which when I booked in July was 160 euros)

Anywho, to cut the long story short, I went to purchase my ticket, not only did they give me the most afordable option, they also gave me 20% discount on top of it all, leaving my collegues green with envy (as another one decided to go last minute). So here I am, paying 84 euros, for a 170 euro minimum train ticket. I am really so fantastically elated overjoyous, dazzled, beside myself happyness...lol.. FAVOUR. When my collegues read the options on the ticket, says that the dicount is only limited to a few people a year, and here I was one of them. Thank you Jesus. I know I know 80 odd euros may not amount to much, but its the principle. Everywhere I go, God is just blowing up the spot. Can't wait. I LOVE YOU JESUS. You make my heart go paulina paulina..lol.. muah.. God I'm just rubbing kisses all over your face.. You are my papa..

Oya I'll post something up tomorrow God willing before I go. Ciao my people.

The Favour Factor: Transform Lives and Make a change

…..it pains me to see someone who has been blessed so, still unable to acknowledge the blessing or see her path laid with so much light… (Sisbee)

I knew a young lady once, who moved on from one blessing to another never recognizing it or being thankful for it. She moved up from being in the shadows to fame in three divine steps, whilst leaving her contemporaries to struggle with jealousy, despair, worry, and other fruitless emotions. It was as if a normal occurrence in her life, which translated to a miracle in the life of others, was always treated with such indifference.

Her Complain:

Every now and then she would ask God, “Why have you created me to only know pain, to question my life's turn of events and in the midst of it all, loose sight of YOUR path for my life. To seek refuge in all the wrong places compounded again with the already fragile state of mind. She would continue with, “What is the point of all the excellence and promotions. I did not ask for wisdom or wealth, but you gave me those in abundance. Still the one I desire the most, “You” have in all these years yet to give me”. Grumbling had become a normal way of life for her, but this did not stop God from making her life a shinning example. A blessing she neither welcomed but rather saw as a cross to bear. A load too heavy to carry. Can you imagine pretending to be happy, when I’m slowly crumbling inside? How can my life be envy to so many people?

God’s answer:

Then one morning as she woke up, like the days previous, ready again to read out her questions, before she spoke, she heard, it was now her turn to be questioned concerning what she’s been doing with her gifts. The Lord asked her: why do my blessings not please you? I gave you life, so that your life is filled with hope and joy and all manner of praise worthy things. I gave you health, so you could enjoy the abundant Life I have stored up for you. I gave you wealth, so that you will know no lack and wisdom so that you will continue to be the head and above in everything your hands find to do. I fearfully and wonderfully made you, which is why when you step out, people take notice of you. You see, it’s not your fault that they have to take notice, it’s just the way I planned it. Before you had need of anything, I had already made provision for them. I realise that sometimes it may take a while to get to the one you desire the most, but you see it’s a process. A conveyer belt system, an ordered series of events to prepare you for that destination. Everything you’ve been given up until now, is a build up to the ones to come. Including “That one” you’ve so vehemently accused me of withholding from you. I don’t think you realise how much I love you, how important you are to me, and how it pains me of your lack of appreciation. I understand that some negative things have and will continue to happen in your life, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t factored it in my plan. Every gift I’ve given you was never for you and you alone, but to be used to transform lives and bring a much needed change in the lives of the people I’m sending to you. The Life I created you for is greater than the life you are living, but it was good for you to ask. It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that “you” are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is your stability and faithfulness - Lam 3:22 - 23. In these days he has shown his favour and taken away “your” disgrace among the people - Luke 1:25. He is watching to see that “His” word is fulfilled (Jer. 1:12), and "You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you." - Numbers 11:23. He continued on to say “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jer. 1:5).

Each one us have one complaint or the other which we’ve already spent a considerable amount of time presenting to God, forgetting there are people whose lives are dependent on the trials we've overcome, none too small in the eyes of God. It is time to go to ‘Galilee”. What are we doing wrong in our lives? Have we in the waiting for “that answered prayer” forgotten to give thanks to God for the others? Are we struggling with the glass is half empty concept. If we are truly honest with ourselves, we can see how good the Lord has been to us. Not just the small things even the great ones. To always count our blessings, because in doing this we see that the positives outnumber the so called negatives. Today I am alive to testify of God’s goodness and greatness in my life - They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death – Rev. 12:1. My future greater than I can ever imagine. I think when we magnify God, and remember how great our God is then living for ourselves will be easier to let go. Living for God, trust me is so much hassle free. We don’t have to worry about the things He’s done or not done for us, but the things we can do for Him. Like the Psalmist says I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken. I too have that testimony to tell. There are people waiting for their lives to be transformed through your testimony. This is the time to Transform Lives and Make a change. Let us never be found wanting.

So I think I can Fool God

So I was querying God recently, trying to ask Him why others seem to get away with certain things, and the moment I do it, my own lands me into great difficulty.

So the Lord replied saying to me in - Galatians 6:5-8 - for each one should carry his own load. Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows that and that only is what he will reap. For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. – Luke 16:15; 1John 2:15-17 –

Romans 6:1 - What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?

As in, next time Life of a Stranger, query other things, not when you are DEAD wrong.

So because there is grace we have used it as a licence to do however we please. Yet this is wrong. Yes we may be in a dispensation of grace, but does that mean we should use it to sneer at God, mock God, and disrespect Him however we please just because He is quick to forgive. So, because we know there is Grace we have forgotten God is the same yesterday today and forever, and have forgotten so quickly, He is the same God of the Old Testament. Just because He is merciful and gracious and slow to anger (Ex. 34:6). But it doesn't say that our actions will in the end not bring God to wrath. Forgetting we can experience the judgement of God if we continue in our ways. That even though He is a God who wants to bless me, and protect me, if I deliberately continue in my sin, as in the sin is now premeditated (i.e. planning my repentance after the sin, intentional sinning), when the outbreak comes I shouldn’t complain why stuff is happening to my life.

Is as if, we are not afraid of God, when we ought to be working out our salvation in fear and trembling. Can you imagine, after you received the knowledge of truth, and continued to sin deliberately, why shouldn’t we expect dreadful judgement. Let’s just say, Fear almost caught me. I quit my whining on the spot, and started singing awesome God, mighty God, I give you praise… you will not hear any more moaning on this blog again biko..

Thank God for Grace. It’s so funny how quickly we have forgotten how way back in the day when it was only the high priest that were allowed to go to the holy place, they would tie rope to their waist just so that if the bell was still jingling, they knew the high priest was still alive and when the bell stopped they knew he must have died, and would pull the rope to get him out. We forget this is the same God, fearful God. So now because Jesus has died for our sins and we have grace we just do as we please.. omo.. carried along or not, we better have this in the back of our mind. Wow, Insulting God, insulting the Spirit of Grace. Trampling the Son of God, and treating God, like someone we couldn’t care less about. We need to start asking God for forgiveness. As in my eyes opened even wider.

Grace is a restraint a reason for us not to sin, and not a reason for us to sin - Lam 3:22 - 23 - It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness.

I know this post is like all over the place, it’s just that I had forgotten, and needed a reminder. I really thank God for loving me to enlighten me so.

Today Lord, I ask you to forgive me, in everyway I have sinned against You. Heavenly Father, today I start again, I rededicate my whole life and being back to you. You and you only have I sinned against. Blot out my transgressions before me, and remember them no more. Help me Lord to treat the blood of Jesus with Reverence and Holiness. Be merciful unto me, and continue to be a light to my Feet, so that I may know the way I ought to go. I know the truth Lord, and I pray that you help me NEVER to continue to sin deliberately. In Jesus Name. Amen