Tag Archives: divine expression

Living It Out As A Joint

The Beggar at the Temple Gates: Acts 3:3-8:

3 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. (KJV)

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More Than A Story

For the longest time this has just been a story and a metaphor for me but recently it hit squarely between the eyes. I was sitting

Image courtesy of https://shecyclesnairobi.files.wordpress.com

Image courtesy of https://shecyclesnairobi.files.wordpress.com

in a bus at the traffic lights at the General Post Office in town, thinking about all the things I needed to do and how my means were inadequate. In this instance, means included time, finances, ideas and host of other things I couldn’t even begin to understand. I was wondering how God could place such a heavy demand on my life yet I couldn’t fulfil it.

As I stared out of the window watching the flow of traffic I noticed that many people were waiting for the lights to change and the cops to stop cars for them and the numbers grew on either side of the road. Suddenly I heard my heart sing a part of the chorus of a song we used to sing in Sunday that says:

Silver and gold have I none, But such as I have give I thee,
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk
.
I sat up straighter as my heart and mind connected the dots. It hit me that the things I needed to do are God given assignments and they have their supply in my obedience.

Simple In Purpose

I am here for a reason and purpose and I came fully loaded for it. The first time I heard those words it was from Dr. Cindy Trimm in 2012 and for a long time I wondered how I could be fully loaded yet I was struggling so much. Now revelation Amazing Two-lovable-babies-resizecrop--unfolded. My purpose on this wonderful planet is to lend strength, serve above the call of duty and create room for God to function. Therefore, every situation I am in requires a different expression of this purpose but I have all I need to achieve the set goal in me through Christ Jesus.

So, if the situation needs impact to the economics of a household I will either have work I need done and the money I need to pay for it or I will have money to just give. If it is about building someone’s faith, I will have an unexpected gift, a word or something else. This means I am a joint always ready to supply. Supplying as a joint is not confined to money, words and prayers. It could be that someone feels unwanted and a warm smile, hug, listening ear or invitation to visit will change their circumstances. The critical thing is to have the right focus and mindset so that I understand what is needed from me, by whom and I supply in the right amount at the right time.

The Reality

When Peter and Paul met the beggar at the gate, they heard from God. The beggar was lame from birth and was focused on money to meet his needs. God however, knew that his next season was bigger and He had to change the beggars mind. The beggar unaware that the next people who would speak to hime heard from the Creator Himself and would receive revelation that of what he (the beggar) needed for the next phase. Imagine his surprise when Peter and Paul helped him to rise and walk in the Name of Jesus. The fact that he didn’t know he needed to walk for his next season didn’t stop God from sending His servants to make it possible. The fact that he had accepted his place at the gate and his disability didn’t mean that God’s plan would change.

The Power to Release

The question that remains is: how many people are stuck somewhere because you and I am so caught up thinking about what we don’t have yet we have something that they need & are sitting on it?

I realised that the joy of serving Jehovah is not in being able to meet the visible needs but rather in meeting the needs people Amazing Rock-splashes-at-sunset-resizecrop--aren’t even aware of or the ones that are unseen and unspoken. Oh the joy of giving what God says to give and not what I think that person needs.

  • Has God sent you with a word for your pastor or spiritual authority that seems simplistic and you have not given it yet? Give it.
  • Has God sent you give someone something small when you know they earn more than you do? Give it.
  • Has God asked you to share his love in simple silent ways to people and you have deemed it too small? Share it.
  • What is it that God has asked you to do that is seemingly foolishly simple and you are wondering about its value? Do it all the same.

The Call

Get up and do whatever God says then watch and see how HE turns it around for HIS glory. I stood amazed when I did the little thing that God asked me to and my availability answered the prayer of a friend with time and a listening ear. It provided encouragement and strength in a way I could never have grasped if I hadn’t seen it myself.

Oh how I pray that I continue to be a #LivingEpistle and obey these small simple things and watch and see the goodness of God unfold for me and those around me. I also pray that you would join me on this wonderful journey to living out our God given purpose.

 

What my heart wants

A couple of weeks back I was sitting with some girlfriends and we were talking about life and what we had always hoped to get out of it. I know we were all somewhat disappointed in the way had things turned out and we reminisce to what we always wanted to happen and make life what we always dreamed it to be. The most common ones were I want:

  • My spouse to help me with the work in the house
  • My spouse to take care of the devotional times and not be the one to initiate always
  • My spouse to take the kids to church
  • My spouse to understand me
  • Us to be free of the struggle to make ends meet
  • To be debt free
  • My boss this and that
  • My folks this and that

And on and on the list went and down the spiral of despair we went. At the end of the day we were not in good shape but we felt better because we had vented and got it off our chests. Misery loves company and at that point I did not realise I had just been in the midst of misery and had a strange feeling about that at the end of the day.

Much later I realised we were on the way to self-destruction if we remained on that road. The thought occurred to me that my life should be about more than what I want before God will come through and make changes. What do I mean? I never wanted it to be that I am the initiator of prayers in the home and I believe that it is the role of my husband the priest of the home. That’s cool but the real question is…what does God want me to do at this point? Now wait a minute: Where do the things I desire and want come into play? Doesn’t He say he will give me the desires of my heart? What will make life worth the living?

That is a foreign concept to most of us and I really struggled with that one. Then heard the man of God speak and many things clicked in and out. He said that the purpose of marriage is to depict the relationship between the Godhead. They are three, with distinct roles and yet they do not overstep each other’s bounds or fight. How many of us are like that. Then there is the purpose of the family and that is to raise a divine expression. This means that we need to raise the next generation of people who love God by choice and deeply to bring the kingdom closer to earth. In all this where is what I want? Where are all those things I have planned on all my life? NO WHERE!!!!! Isn’t that funny? I should really be asking “Lord what is your plan and purpose? What do you want me to do and become?” Not easy but that is the reality of my life. Wow!!!!

I realised that I am called to be more than just a regular believer but a change maker and earth mover. To be that, I must be clued into the will of God and choose to make his desires the desires of my heart. Yes, there are things that I desire and I make them known to him BUT when that is done I leave it ALL to him. Yes he gives me the desires of my heart but it is the renewed desires that he fulfils. When I am fully committed to him he will change the things I want to the things he wants.

John 6:56…As the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This got me on a new page just now…wow talk about revelation on the spot…If I live because of Him then I desire what he desires and he works actively in me. I am in the midst of a place that makes it easy for me to be connected and wanting what he wants and daily making the changes that I need to make. This is because I have finally got to the end of me and realised that there is nothing I can do that will work. I found that I must plug into him and find the way through obedience. It is an interesting walk because some of the things he wants me to do are different and humanly outrageous but yet not impossible. However, as I walk with him I am in the midst of making better choices in life. I still have things to change and I am changing everyday but I am also learning new things.

I am learning to concentrate on what God would have for me and not push for what I want. However the closer I get to him the more intertwined my desires for the same things he desires. This means that the life I live is full and happy despite the surrounding situation and I am above all things. I am above because nothing can hold me down when I am in his hands. I now want the things God wants for me and the level of my frustration in life is now non-existent. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I that lives but Christ that lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in him who saved me…this is becoming my daily desire. I am learning to love life and live it to the fullest…