When Faith becomes a REALITY

So often in life I find that we all rely on our own security, we take control of our lives in such away that we try and work things out to the best of our knowledge and our understanding. When our circumstances change or things don't go the way we plan, we panic and worry, and are often filled anxiety that eats us up on the inside. We then think or over-think situations, before having in-trusted things and handed things over to the Lord.

More often than not we put our trust in our ‘own security’ or the security that ‘we’ have created or have been blessed with. In moments like this is is important to constantly acknowledge where the blessing of our security comes from, and understand that the so many things that we rely on, such as money food, shelter, family and relationships can be taken away in an instant. The kind of thinking that relies more on ‘our’ provisions than on God who ultimately provides them, is dangerous. It says in Romans 11:26 “ Everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.” This is just one of the many places in the bible that points to Jesus being the provider and sustainer of everything.

Firstly, wrong thinking on this matter, aids us to think that we are more in control of our lives than we really are, secondly it diminishes our reliance on our creator. Both of these things decrease how we see God and more often than not result in God become a dash-board god who we can call on only in times of crisis, desperation and need. Our mindset will typically be, what can God do for me? This reveals that we are making ourselves the centre of attention and we are only interesting in our own glory. God word gives us a very different picture through the life of Jesus, it shows us that Jesus came to serve and not to be served, he constantly relied on God the father to provide in every situation so that God my have the glory.

In Jesus prayer to his father before his crucifixion, echoed the words, ‘Father not my will but your will be done’. If you think about it, to declare these words, means that we are ultimately surrendering everything to the will of God. That might mean a number of things, from joy to sorrow, to persecution - after all, what that statement meant for Jesus, lead him he to endure the cross. However to truly profess this statement with our whole heart I believe that we become partakes in the divine which through the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to accomplish more that we could ever have imagined on our own. The Lords prayer as we are taught by Jesus, utters those same word... may your will BE DONE (surrender - not my will but your will Lord) may your kingdom come (part takers in the divine).

This ultimate surrender requires us to lay things down at the feet of Jesus and trust in his will, his good and pleasing will. I believe that this action leads us to begin to understand what faith is about and what it requires.

Last night after church I spoke to a young man from Zambia who had encountered God in such a powerful way that, he left everything, his home, his country, even his family to pursue his love for the Lord. His mother even wanted to disown him because of His proclamation of Jesus as the Lord of His life. He told me that he loved his mom, but loved Jesus more. He shared with me, this vision to be used by God and to fulfill his holy calling. He knows that God is going to give him a ministry to change nations, to raise people from the dead. It was a very humbling moment for me as he told me that having nothing, he left home to pursue the Lord, came to nothing, but the Lord has provided for everything. That is great faith that has come from ultimate surrender. Although his journey is not easy and he doesn't now where the next bit of income is coming from, he whole heartedly trusts the Lord to provide - that to me is faith becoming a reality. He is proceeding boldly to that which he is called because he has surrendered His will to that of the Lords.

Every seed dies before it grows

Ok so i haven't blogged in ages.. its time to get this thing up and rolling again, now that i have a bit more time on my hands for the things that i want to do. So the days have been rolling by in the city of Jozi... lots of change happening and lots of change up ahead. Exciting times, what and adventure this life is sometimes.

Just got back from a service at Godfirst church.... a very inspiring preach by PJ on.. What would God say to BONO? Its part of the celebrity series that the church is doing. It was very thought provoking and challenging. Bono is someone who challenges our box and dualistic ways of thinking about the church, about faith and about life. The part that really challenges me was the fact the VIBE we give off to non believers or as he termed the, inquiries, is a reflection of our hearts. Not to say that our words don't mean anythings, but if our word are different to our heart, then our vibe will be our heart. Im not sure if this is making sense to anyone else but me... anyway, what im trying to say in another way is that, if we dont get our hearts right with regards to the way we view faith and believers and non believers, our gospel proclamation and provocation could become seriously ineffective (has it not been ineffective in so many ways already). I sometimes feel that so much time and energy is wasted, and structure and open handed doctrinal issues in the church, that we lose our focus on looking outward because we are so busy looking inward.

So my challenge to myself this week is to surrender those religious parts of me, that give off a religious or negative VIBE to no believers. My prayer is to let that part of me die, so that a new part may grow. God let your GRACE abiding in me!

Maggie Moo

At Mike and Jax wit there new scotty puppy!

My Life

Today is a reason for living... i have been reminding this past week that we really have been giving life to LIVE, i mean fully LIVE, I have found myself in this place lately where my living has been squeezed out of me, by the tamming of life by society and the jobs that we do. Im restling through these things at the moment, but i really do believe that we were created to have wild spirits, like our creator. Here is an awesome and moving clip from the passion movement - how thought provoking and inspiring. i believe that god can take our life, wherever we are at, despite what we have done and turn it into somethings glorious as apart of His -story for His Kingdom and His glory. enjoy


http://www.268generation.com/passion2010/video/1/

Leaving for Aus

Ross and i waiting 2 leave for and adventure of a life time! Im so expectant about this trip, i feel that its going 2 b such a turning point in my life! See u on the other side of the world!

X Marks the Spot

Welcome to my blog, I certainly hope that you have been enjoying what I have been writing, I know that I have not been writing in awhile, because I have experience another major move in my life. I suppose it’s not that hectic but it definitely has shaken me a little in terms of the path that I thought I was on. Let me give you a bit of background. Well I’m now back in my homeland and hometown, Johannesburg, South Africa, it was not long ago that I was in Dubai, living there, getting settled there, but also wondering what I was doing there. My time there was filled with many challenges and hard though provoking moments, but also with joy filled moments of new opportunity and exciting adventure. Just as I was getting settled, surrendering that God has positioned me where he wants me, I got the call that I was gonna be sent back home as a result of cash flow difficulties within the company that brought me over to Dubai. I always knew that work was not the primary reason why I was going to Dubai, but it was always a means to be there. Although I have realised many reasons for going to Dubai for a time, I still have many questions on my mind about why my time there was a lot shorter than I thought, despite the strong convictions in my heart about that is where God wanted me to be. The flip side of this I realised that God positions us where he wants us to be, even if it was only three months. Im sure that I will be unpacking the lessons learned from my time in the desert for many years to come. Although it is sometimes hard to realise this, we are on an adventure with God every day, whether we are at home or away from home, whether we are at work or travelling the world let be open to the direction and the constant provision of God in our lives and turn to him every day to ask for guidance.

Troubling Times

It is with sadness that it has come to this, a world rife with war, hatred, dishonesty, corruption and a failing economic system. One would contest that the powers that be are not in control as the world as we know it spirals into its own destruction. But as a citizen of heaven, a cannot believe that a sovereign God will let injustice reign upon the earth that He has created. For He will use every situation, whether good or bad for his Glory, for He has all the dominion and power in the entire universe. This week my country goes to the election polls, I critical time in our history once again. It is a time when many hopes are fading in the light of the governing party and Mr Jacob Zuma failing to show integrity and honesty, in the undermining of the justice system escaping the 700 charges or so laid against him by the National Prosecuting Authority. It is my choice not to let the reality of the situation leave me feeling hopeless and despondent, but rather to stand up against the injustices through prayer and petition. So encourage you all who read this to get on your knees and ask that the sovereign will of God to be done and that His Kingdom may come here on Earth, in South Africa as it is in heaven.

This comes from the Global Day of Prayer:

Dear Friend!
We are indeed facing a critical Election on 22 April 2009
and your prayers will most certainly make a difference in the future of our
nation.As we are in the final few days leading up to our National Election
we want to request the following:

1. Set the time leading up to elections apart for prayer and fasting.
Pray for God?s will to be done and remind Him of His promises. " ... if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face
and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive
their sin and heal their land." (2 Chron. 7:14)

2. Set specific time apart during church services on Sunday 19 April 2009 to pray for the elections.

3. Intentionally pray for peace in our nation. "First of all, then, I urge that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and
quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." (1 Tim. 2:1-3)

4. Commit to your responsibility to vote on 22 April 2009. Make sure that your vote will not deny your Biblical values and principles.

5. Vote prayerfully, carefully considering what God is asking of you in regards to:- Integrity and honesty (Am I voting for upright and honest people?)- Moral and upright policies (Does the party answer to the demands of morality and justice?)- Blind Loyalty (Do I cast my vote based on past loyalty or on what contribution the party is making towards a peaceful and just society?)- Intolerance and/or intimidation (Do I respect those whose opinion differ from mine and am I allowed to voice my opinion?)Yes, your vote in the upcoming election counts! For God?s will to
be done "on earth as it is in heaven", it is critical for His children to pray, to vote and to live as instruments of love and transformation.Let us trust the words of Luke 18:7-8: "And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly."

The GDOP
Team