Psalms 23
The Lord is my Shepherd = Relationship

I shall not want = Provision

He makes me to lie down in green pastures = Rest

He leads me beside the still waters = Rejuvenate

He restores my soul = Healing form all pain

He leads me in the paths of righteousness = Guidance with Counsellor

For His name sake = Purpose in Life

Though I walk through the valley of t he shadow of death = Tribulations and Testing

I will fear no evil = Protection

For Thou art with me = Faithfulness and fully present

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = Discipline

Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies =
Hope and Reward

He anoints my head with oil = Sanctification

My cup runs over = Abundance

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life =
Blessing and Recognition

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = Security

Forever = For Eternity

The worse day in my life

Yes they come unexpectedly, without warning it hits you from the left field. Can you think of a day that was your worse day ever. I can think of a few in my life. How does God see it? Does He think those where the worse days in my life?

Josef woke up in a warm bed one day, a beautiful coat, with family that loved him, food and protection. He had dreams of being famous which gave him confidence and assurance, by the end of that afternoon Josef was fighting with his brothers and thrown into a cold dark pit, alone and afraid...did he know his day was going to end this way? It was one of his worse days in his life; did God think it was the worst day in his life?

Abraham woke up one fine morning; he was content happy and he felt so blessed by God, things where falling into place, then God told him to kill it all. WHAT!!! But I thought things where on track now that Sarah had Isaac! It was the worse day in Abraham’s life. Did God think it was the worst day in Abraham’s life? 

After many years of living under depression, the Jewish people where excited, finally a king to stand up and lead them into victory. Rumours spread quickly that morning; the king is caught, early hours just outside the city in the garden while he was praying. They say he is going to get crucified! It cannot be true, but the promise.....was that the worse day in the Jewish history? Did God think it was the worse day?

Many more stories....Esther in love with the boy next door gets caught to live in captivity, doomed to a life of being a call girl. Job’s family killed in a tragic accident without any warning. Daniel thrown into a cage as lion feed after working for the country diligently for many years.

All these worse days, became the biggest days in history, Josef became a King that saved the Jews from starvation because of that glorious DAY, Abraham made history through his faith that glorious DAY, Jesus dying for your sins and mine, what a glorious DAY, Esther saving a nation from being killed, what a glorious DAY, Job receiving everything back double that he lost, what a glorious DAY, Daniel saved by Gods powerful hand, what a glorious DAY!!!

Never determine the truth about your situation based on the circumstances, Gods promise is that goodness and mercy will follow you where ever you go. God says you have everything you need, He will feed you, cloth you, protect you, rescue you, like He has been for so many generations for do many others

Your worse day might just be the most glorious day!!

Womanhood

Do you realise how strong you are, throughout the ages, Jesus used woman in all areas. Throughout His ministry He had woman disciples that tended to every need of His. They are not mentioned but they were probably the most important part of His ministry. Some of those women were Mary of Magdala, Maria His mother and Mary who washed His feet, as well as Martha who did most of the cooking. We are the depiction of loyalty and love, through what we do, woman like Ruth, Esther, Tamar and Rachel that showed how far we will go for love and loyalty. We are born with it, you are born with it. That is where our beauty lies in our ability to love.

So what does satan do, he wants to destroy your ability to love , your beauty, and being loyal; because we have replaced him and have become the beauty of creation instead. In the Old Testament there are so many examples of how woman was mistreated, raped, used as slaves and brutally killed. Used as concubines and shared with one husband. Today it is no different, some of us have been in abusive marriages, some of us have been raped, badly treated and used by men, and some of us have been forced to live the life of a prostitute....this is not knew, woman have suffered for generations under satan’s wrath towards God’s creation , being a woman.

Inside of us all there is a Ruth – Ruth meaning beauty- once you find your purpose that God has for you, you will see the super natural manifestation of Gods power. We all have a purpose and getting to your purpose will give you success beyond your wildest dreams, slaying your Goliath.

I do not know what your struggles are, it may be that you have been praying for a Boaz, it might be a difficult marriage; it might be provision and protection. You need to make a choice if you are going to return to the pagan land or go to the land of plenty, into Gods purpose and promises for your life. Take comfort in the fact that Ruth had no guarantee, nothing to look forward too; she had to go and live with a very sour, stiff-necked mother-in-law. She had no husband, no family money left behind in a life policy, no; she only had her loyalty and love.

She forgot about the past and moved forward with no regret, pressing in because it was not about the past but about the future. Naomi was bitter and exhausted after10 years living in a pagan land, doing what they do. People did not even recognise her. Sin has the ability to drain you from your future and break you down. It will cost you dearly. Naomi left the promise and purpose of God but she came back to the favour of God where there was provision and blessing to come. Whatever sinful sin that is keeping you back from experiencing the power of God will keep on destroying your ability to love. God has a bigger plan of success for you; He is faithful if you step back into His will.

So Ruth made that decision, she worked where she was led by God to go, by His favour she was led to where she was suppose to be. Boaz saw her and summoned his people to not harm her and to leave behind some of the grain for her; he already became her protector and provider before she even knew him. That is God’s favour and blessing for you too. You will be led to that perfect job with favour so that you will be provided for by others. In your marriage God will become your provider and protector. He will not fail you.

And so the story unfolds, Boaz falls in love with her and invites her for lunch that very same day, Ruth gets her man. That evening she dresses up like a million bucks, sprays herself with perfume and meets with him in secret at his feet for the most romantic moment, he covers her with his mantle (prayer shawl). The covering of the mantle meant that he would from that moment on be with her  forever, he promises to marry her and cover her bad past and protect her reputation by defending her always, all her debt became his, he was her kinsman redeemer. How beautiful, her moment, her blessing, Gods power revealed.

We serve a God of second changes and new beginnings. Eight signifies a new beginning, pray for your 8^th day, your new beginning. In that place of purpose is the power of Christ!! Your ability to be loyal and to love will surely come.

Surrender

Lord, Jesus here I am today totally surrendered to you in a state of worship, completely and utterly prostrated before you. You are Almighty God, above all. You are my wisdom, my air, my life. You were crucified for me, you were born to die for everything I have done and still will do. How can I ever repay you enough? Every day I lift up to you, it belongs to you, my decisions, my joy, throughout my day, may I only exalt you, worship you, for you are King, anointed one. Oh how my life seems so insignificant in comparison to how this story ends. My means of survival, my need for a husband, my desire for children, does this all fit into your plan in the end, because if it does not what can I do to honour you instead? Oh my Lord if it was not for you I would not breathe. If it was not for you I would not survive one day, this complete dependence on my hero that stepped up, hung Himself voluntary so that I can glorify you today. I have freedom, healing and happiness for all eternity because of you. Gifts I have received before, but nothing compares with the high I feel in Your presence. I just want to be with you Lord, were you are, what you do, what you say. If someone loves me so much that he would die for me, I would owe him my life, it is the most honourable thing someone has ever done for me. I am anguished by my desire to repay You, Lord. You know me so well, You study me, YOu understand me and You even know every hair on my head. You deserve all of me, I owe You my life, because that is all I have to give.....

Who does your heart belong to?

We are made with emotions; we experience all kinds of feelings, feelings of disappointment, hurt, rejection, fear. We have to protect our hearts from letting the wrong emotions in; it can make you sick, even influence your performance or add to your stress. So do your emotions control you? I have to say that it is pretty easy for me to keep history of conversations in my head, bbm and sms. Re-read it or play it over and over in my head, then strategising in my head what I can say and why it was said like that. Very silly, I am using so much energy on this non-existing world, making pictures of what if, that never realises? It stirs unhealthy emotions inside of me, resentment, bitterness sometimes even revenge.

They say men are very straight forward, what comes out their mouths is exactly what they mean. Some women are brutal and too honest and controlling. The question is when you build relationship with someone, even for a short while, are you throwing your heart in harm’s way? Are you lending out your heart to people to trample on and hurt you? Giving your heart to someone means opening your secrets your desire and your emotions to a person. Ladies we are inclined to trust men so quickly and share our hearts. We need to be careful who we let in. Our hearts belong to the Lord, His the only one that you can trust 100%, but we do not, we trust strangers that hurt our feelings.

I cannot separate my heart from my emotions, if people abuse my heart my emotions follow and I become a person I do not want to be, angry and bitter. It is not their fault but my own fault. I have a choice and I can protect my heart from the wrong one. Ask God to help you to be able to discern between abusers and users. Hurt happens. God did not intend us to get hurt, especially by men but we voluntary give away our heart to the wrong people to do whatever they please, break it, use it, abuse it and return it to us bruised and bleeding. Protect your heart. If you give away little bits at a time you will be left with nothing except resentment. Keep your heart whole for the husband that God intended for you or your kids that need nurturing and love.

Your heart is a treasure; treasure you do not share with just anyone, our search for love continues and burns within us until we find peace. Every person has a deep need of acceptance that causes your heart to break and as long as we carry on giving our treasure away to those that God did not intend us to, we will stay unsatisfied, angry, resentful and bitter. I know that I have given away my heart to too many wrong, unappreciated people in my life, especially men.  I had to ask the Lord to teach me to protect my heart because I could not do it myself. God was faithful. He closed my heart for the wrong men and wrong friends. Be wise with your gift.

You are not dependant on other people for your happiness, you are responsible. 

My daddy

Let me tell you about my daddy...

My daddy is the richest man in the whole world; He has more money than you can count

My daddy is so important that He always has the last say

My daddy lives in a mansion

My daddy is building me the most beautiful home that my heart desires

My daddy is stronger than any human being that ever lived

My daddy cannot lie

My daddy cannot lie

My daddy loves me more than life itself

My daddy can give me anything I want because I do things to please Him and because I love Him with my whole heart

My daddy can make anything possible that seems impossible today

My daddy does not have the ability to hurt me

My daddy catches me every time I jump

My daddy feeds me and clothes me with the very best

My daddy kisses me all over every morning with a new day in a ray of sunlight

My daddy always does what He promises to do

My daddy holds me tight when I am scared

My daddy knows about every tear and every person that has ever hurt me

My daddy always takes my side

My daddy chooses a husband for me because He knows the best because He is older and wiser

My daddy is very important and gets worshipped by many because He deserves it

.........I am a princess

Fighting on your knees

Ladies, today I want to share something amazing.  I have been married before, once and really struggled with the whole submission thing. You tend to get this picture of domination and control over you, if you submit, do you not? The longer I am a Christian the more I learn about this interesting phenomenon. There are so many articles written about submission so many opinions and advice but what does God say really when he says submit to your husbands.

A few Sundays ago we learned that submission is not becoming a door mat saying yes and amen and being a slave but purely that both mom and dad have different roles to play. The woman’s roles are to nurture, care for and take care of our families. Dad provides and protects the family. So when a decision needs to be made within the family mom will come out of a perception of nurture and dad from a place of protection and provision because that is how we are made. Mom and dad discuss the matter with the whole family and then a final decision is made by dad. 

At this point some woman might say: ‘‘no’ I have just as much say!! Why does he have the last say” We woman do have the tendency to go into a role of control, control over the kids over dad because we feel that we know better and dad knows nothing. My problem in my first marriage was just that I did not want to give up my control because what if I get hurt again, what if I have to live under someone else’s terrible decision which is not the best thing for me or the family? It is a matter of not losing control over what is about to happen to us, it is absolutely normal behaviour. We try and hold onto things in the world to determine the outcome but do we really have control in the bigger scheme of things?  I am so sorry to be the bearer of bad news but we do not. So what can we do to help the outcome without dishonouring our husbands or insisting to get our own way?

PRAY, I had my first experience with my unsaved, x-husband that did not want to change my son’s school, trying to convince him was a task all most impossible. So the Lord said to me I do not want you to discuss it with him at all or nag him, I want you to pray. So I PRAYED. It was a matter of days before he came to me and in an absolute outrage exclaimed that he wants to change our son’s school. A miracle and a valuable lesson that I needed to learn before I got into a new marriage. My role is not to make the final decision but to pray for my husband to make the right decision. If God could change an unsaved man’s heart he can change a donkey’s heart. If things do not go your way after praying then it was not Gods way and be assured that God only wants the best for you and your family and that He does know better than you and your husband put together.

God wants to teach you to pray, fight on your knees the battle that seems so impossible. It is possible in prayer. Let go and let God take control in your family. Step into your role and pray for your family and if you are still single practice to pray instead of making things happen yourself. Let God teach you to become a praying wife and not a nagging wife. If you want a husband, do not stop praying. If you want to learn to be a good wife and have a successful marriage, pray and God will prepare you before you receive your husband.  If you want a husband that spoils you, pray and ask the Lord. If you want your kids to get along, pray and ask the Lord. If you want your husband to grow, pray. Fight on your knees. What a privileged honour for a woman to be able to pray and receive, to make a difference and be absolutely at peace at decisions made just by praying.

Love covers everything

This message I am sharing today is very close to my heart and have caused allot of hurt with me, my friends and family in the past. Allot of churches is somewhat divided in the concern of divorce and remarriage. I decided to write about it, to put it out there and try to understand God’s heart in these circumstances.

It states that a Christian couple can get divorced, if adultery has been committed. You are then permitted to remarry or in the case of a spouse that died. If there was desertion by an unbelieving spouse there is freedom for the believer to remarry, however, remarriages other than on these grounds are discouraged. Reconciliation is encouraged rather than divorce. Every effort should be made to restore the relationship. In regard of divorce and remarriage that have occurred before becoming a Christian, it is clear that it all falls into your old life, they are free to remarry under the law of Christ midst confessed and repented of.

So where does this leave us today, so many of us got divorced for many reasons other than adultery. If we are not allowed to remarry what will happen, sex outside of marriage instead of Holy matrimony, or just simply end up alone? How many of us are innocent in this circumstance, have been unfairly treated. Why do we have to find out now that we cannot marry again?

So what is my opinion....

God made a woman and a man to be together, to become one and multiply. That was the command. There was no such label as marriage. People labelled it and then corrupted it by asking Moses now what, what if you do not want to be with that one person anymore? So the people made another law, okay let’s call it divorce and then you free to do as you will, again it was made corrupt by the people. The Pharisees where like flies irritating Jesus with questions of the Law all the time. This is the same subject they bought up with Jesus and He responded; it is like adultery. The 10 commandments states do not commit adultery. The law does not state do not get divorced, the people asked for a law of divorce. God tried to protect the people by shielding their blood lines, but men knew better. God hates adultery because He made us to be with one partner for ever. God knows the consciences of divorce. Today there are so many illnesses manifesting in our children that doctors cannot explain for example autism. Ask yourself where it all started. The New Testament states if you so much as look at a woman or man lustfully you are committing adultery. If you want to get technical let’s get technical. If divorce was never instituted by God and marriage a human terminology then we should go back to the cross. Love covers all. Love gives me a second chance; love over rides the Law including manmade laws. Grace is what we operate on. May we judge people’s circumstances? Have we walked in those persons shoes in their destructive marriages? No, so can we really say what they should do and not do. Did Jesus not run a ministry for 3 years to free people from laws?

We tend to blame God for everything, but it is our own mistakes that cause us to fall. Man decided to divorce, it was not God’s plan for His people. God hates this Law as much as He hates adultery so Jesus compares it with adultery. A beautiful miracle that God created for us, being sexual in an intimate relationship with one partner is central to what it means to be human. We corrupted it with our lifestyles, we perverted it with our ads and movies and Hollywood. Sex was created before sin, WE corrupted it; we are the only ones to blame. So would the one out there that has not added to this sin please throw the first stone, every one of us have to repent, forefathers, you, me, everyone out there have contributed to the world we live in today, the corruption of what was made beautiful and pure.

I am divorced. I have sinned.

My heart’s desire is to have a second chance to make it right. I want to make a difference; I want to change generations after me. I have been forgiven by His stripes. By His grace I was washed clean, my sins forgotten as if it never happened.

Scripture references:

Gen 1:27-28

Gen 2:18-25

Lev 18

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

Matt 19:3-9

2 Peter 2:9

1 John 2:7-9

Proverbs 18:22

1 Tim 5:14

Heb 13:4

Matt 5:32

Mark 10:9

1 Corinthians 7

If I could give you a cocktail that would give you the following....

1. Freedom
2. Become carefree like a child
3. Always have food
4. Always have money
5. Health like a horse
6. The wisest man in town
7. Satisfied with life
8. Want to get up in the morning, never tired again
9. Never ever being scared
10. Never ever being worried
11. Receiving the best partner, custom made for you
12. Have 24hour bodyguard protection
13. Having authority
14. Having amazing kids
15. Receive a make-over and a brand new identity
16. Never to worry again
17. Every plan and process falling into place at the exact time, when you need it and how you need it
18. Understanding who you are and what your purpose is
19. Free insurance
20. Everlasting beauty
21. .....and to live forever

THEN

All you have to do is to take the cocktail in the morning and the evening as much as you can. If you decide to take it today IT IS COMPLETELY FREE!! Your gift purchase will be delivered immediately, and all you have to do is to say these words.

”JESUS FORGIVE ME, FOR I AM A SINNER”

Introducing you to the greatest man I have ever met

His a man of integrity, a man of His word. He always has a kind word to say, he always loves me, no matter what I have done. His never betrayed me or disappointed me. He has these little surprises He gives me, little gifts. He gave me a car once, the exact one I wanted. When I am in trouble He gives me money or food, depending on what is more important at the time. As a first opinion, He always seems to know exactly what is wrong with me. His advice sometimes seems crazy but it always works. When I am angry, He does not get angry back but pulls me into His arms and lets me sob until it is all out. He adopted me six and a half years ago and since then I have received favour where ever I go like a royal that gets right of way. In fact people even said I look different, some even say I look prettier. He whispers these kind words in people’s ears you know because He is so proud of me and gave me a crown to wear so that people will know I am a relative of Him. He makes me laugh and teaches me to enjoy the simple things in life, so now I do not miss the important things in life because of Him. He teaches me about love, he says if you love everyone you make this world a better place. When I feel that things are just too much and I cannot go on, He comes over and lets me sleep it off while He takes over my priorities and sorts it out for me so that I do not have to face it. When I am depressed he completely understands. When I am lonely He will stay with me for as long as it takes. His voice is kind; you can read every emotion in His eyes, such compassion and such intensity! He feels everything I go through because we are so close, He even knows how I am going to react before I do, that is how well he knows me. He makes it His business to study me. He is always available, I never have to wait. Everything I have ever received I have received exactly at the right time and He always caters for more than what I asked for, but it never waists because I drink in everything I can get from this man, everyday, for the rest of time. This man is Jesus

                                                                                               

The truth

Some of you are probably wondering what happened to the love vast. I did publicly announce a vast from men and then got engaged, here is my story.....

 Since last year May I have started dating again after vasting from men for 3 years.  My first boyfriend I had, I tried to convince myself that this must be it. I was faithful for 3 years surely I need a reward now; my impatience caused me so much hurt and disappointment, looking back now I tried to pray him into being the right person. I expected things from him that was unfair because he had his own journey with the Lord. After a 4 months relationship trying to mould him into this perfect picture of a husband for me, he packed up over night and disappeared, do you blame him? If God is not in it there is nothing we can do to convince God that I can make it work, human ability will just mess it up and I did.

I met a worship leader in church straight after that and knew he was not it, but needed to have someone through the Christmas time. A total rebellion decision and yes I had a wobbly, thought I can ignore God because it was entirely His fault that my relationship did not work out. Yes we are quick to blame God for our mistakes, but it soon showed that throwing a tantrum with the Lord does not get you anywhere, you end up making things worse and you find yourself in bad circumstance. This man was so negative, he was angry at everybody, when we went for coffee he would be upset about where we sat, who served us, how the coffee tasted, that the sun was too bright. He screamed at everyone in the car while driving, upset with the neighbours, even the cat got it. It was so depressing to be in his company that I could not take it anymore and surrender to the Lord...Okay Lord I know, I am sorry.

Christmas passed and new years, then I met a pilot, he had money, not so close in His relationship with the Lord, he drank and smoked, not the ultimate best that God has for me, we hanged out allot...for a pilot, (12 days in two months) at least he was not angry at everything. Although I knew he was not the one I felt like Mother Theresa that could help this poor man to get closer with the Lord, I can hear you , no Silma not again, but yes I went there, tried to show him by the way I lived that he would change. Did it work? Of course not!!!!!!

A month later I went for coffee with a man, leaving the meeting he contacted me 4 times, he knew that  I was the one. I remember crying at my friend’s house saying; this is not the one. He pursued me, even made promises in the name of the Lord. I thought there was something wrong with me because I did not feel the same but I forced it, it must be right if he is getting scripture, he was planning our whole wedding, surprised he did not pick out a dress for me as well, but deep, deep inside I had turmoil. I was confused about my happiness and the Lord was silent. I prayed and begged for an answer. Two months later the Lord answered. “Break into loud and joyful song for you have more children now being desolate than being married. You will soon burst at your seams.” It was the answer that I was waiting for, begging for and the Lord answered.

After that I decided that is it!!!! My heart has been thrown all over the place. Although I have not been sexually intimate with any of these men it still affected me and hurt me so much. There was a soul tie that was created just by sharing my thoughts and pains and desires with these men. So I made a choice. I need to vast from men again, run away from them and just feel sorry for myself and teach other woman on my blog what to look out for. All this could not be for nothing, all these lessons that I so deeply regretted.

Then the Lord spoke again. His intention for me was not to run away and hide in a vast, why was I making decisions without consulting my daddy again. God wanted to move me into a new place and I was hiding from it, why would God want to bless me after I have messed up so much and got involved in so many bad circumstances? But I listened this time, I was obedient and then it happened I met him, the one that was intended for me. This amazing man that is so much more than what I expected.  It was so easy from the start; we just melted together, made for each other by God.

No matter what you did or how many times you messed up, stay faithful, keep the hope, do not stop trying  your best.

It is GRACE

Stepping into the promise

The Lord does want us to be happy and it is scriptural to have a family and a husband so I do not believe that my Father would neglect that area in my life. So we all human and we lose hope so we need to stay positive. He has someone out there for you.....

I am always reminded of the past and why I would not get any blessing in the future and then the Lord says to me: “ No Silma, it is not who you knew or what you did in the past, it is how you live today, My Grace is what I give you anyway even if you messed up otherwise it would not be Grace but conditions, don’t I tell you every day that my Grace is yours, a free gift” That means that even if I do not deserve the best man in this world, my Father says that I do, because of Grace and not because of what I have done.

I am saved so I live “Life” not “death” and the difference are:

Life                                                                                                        Death

Prosperity                                                                                           Disaster

Kids                                                                                                        Barrenness

Blessings                                                                                              Curses

Good Marriage                                                                                 Broken Marriage

Good husband                                                                                  troubled husband

Ministry                                                                                               Searching

Long Life                                                                                              Short Life

Joy                                                                                                         Bitterness

Partner and Friend                                                                          Loneliness

Acceptance                                                                                        Rejection

Peace                                                                                                    Fear

Calmness                                                                                             Anxiety

Land and stability                                                                             Gypsy

Every time you go to the death side tell satan to let you go because you have life abundantly!!!

Two fellows-in-a-ship in the storm

 I have to apologise for not sending out my blog diligently everyday for the last month because I hit a tsunami for four weeks, July. Do not worry I am okay, barely, with battle scars to prove it. I was retrenched, my computer packed up, went into a depression, no finances and so on. One good thing is not feeling lonely because I know there are many of you that feel the same..... So okay let’s just stop for a second and ask why the storms, we are Christians and yet storms hit us so hard we sometimes feel like we beaten from every side by a baseball bat. Are we supposed to go through these storms? Did I do anything to deserve it? Did I sin? Does God love me and where is He in all this? Why is He allowing this to happen? Maybe you feeling lonely and depressed, maybe you have a very big decision to make, whatever it is it is, YOU in a storm and it may seem like nothing to someone else but for YOU it is hard.

This vast is all about learning how much God loves us.....He wants the best for us so how do we deal with these storms. Can God make it disappear?

The disciples were in a few storms during Jesus’ ministry. Background about the disciples, they where fisherman they knew the storms, they lived it and studied it, they knew the winds and what clouds bought what weather. The scriptures do not explain the disciples breathing one word to Jesus about not crossing the sea because there is bad weather coming. No, they were hit by a storm unexpectedly every time, although they knew allot about boats and how to handle a storm, they found themselves stuck in it and terrified? But Jesus pitched up every time.....

The Lord showed me a picture of a timeline starting with “A” and the end of the line a “B” call it the target, the end result. To get from A to B we need to go on a journey. We focus on the target because that is what we need to get to. Whatever your target is at the moment, a job, a sales target, falling pregnant, meeting a husband, putting a function together or making that big decision, you need to get to the result. Moving from A to B you need to go through the storm, the storm teaches you and prepares you for the result. We are so focussed on the result that we want to fly over the sea to the other side above the storm and get to B ASAP. God is not interested in the B part only we are; the B part is the reward the gift at the end of the amazing race. God is interested in how you get there, what are you doing while you travelling to B and what is your attitude and your faith whilst getting to B. Maybe if our focus is taken of B then we can walk on water. Think about it, Peter was the only man ever to have been able to walk on water, if he took the plane that day he would have missed out on being part of a miracle.

I have a different attitude about storms now, storms there will always be, we cannot wish it away. But when a non-christian looks at me and he sees me going through these storms I will only show joy so that they will say “How can Silma be so calm during this time?” instead of “look at Silma things always go wrong in her life”. Fear is the only thing that can steal my joy, and fear will not prevent me from being part of a great miracle, maybe I can be the second person that can walk on water, lol (watch the headlines in the Raport).

You are not alone in this; we all go through these storms. Christian, no Christian, people just do not always talk about their storms because it has become fashion to keep it together. God is teaching you every day, he taught his disciples to rely on Him through the storm and God creates miracles in the storms. So hold on to Jesus!!!! And remember “Christianity is not for sissies”....says the one fellow to the other fellow in the ship – “Fellow-ship”

Day 56                                                                                                   18 July 2011

Sex, masturbation and oral sex

What is your opinion? Is sex okay before marriage? Is it ok to just “pet or petting”- (masturbation and oral sex transformed on each other) after all we are not having sex we are just enjoying each other....Where do we draw the line? What does the bible say, what are we allowed to do and what not? Are you depended on a sexual relationship to feel loved?

 I have read allot of books about staying pure and keeping yourself for your husband. It was amazing and I got allot out of it but I am a divorced, single mom that has been there, no secret there, my son is seven. I have tasted the life of sexual intimacy and stepping back into purity is a cliché to most of the books I have read, so I decided to investigate myself and ask the Lord to guide me and explain to me how far is too far.

Well we all know that we cannot have sex before marriage. Do we practice these principles today or have we been sucked into the worldly system that says it is okay. I have heard people say that I have been married before and I am not making the same mistakes so I will test drive before I buy. Some ask how you would know you are sexually compatible if you do not try it out. I have had boyfriends that said we need to enjoy each other some way or the other so petting is fine...Then the best is “we are going to get married anyway” If I had to believe that from every guy I have dated I would have slept with so many thinking that they will marry me...no girls please do not fall for that one.

Sex has become an industry. Everywhere we see the image of men and women being used to sell products or to simply stir the passions.  It is not sacred, holy and pure anymore. The marriage bed is defiled and we are confused about the love that lies within “making love” So I had a look at Corinthians. According to history the ladies of Corinth was very promiscuous and Paul said “do not be sexual immoral” which meant no adultery, no sex with animals, no sex whilst a woman menstruates and no sexual idolatry.

Idolatry is the use of an object to obtain that which only God can provide. Makes you think about how pornography has been portrayed and how you see and understand sex today. I want more "X" in my life. I will use this object to obtain more of "X".  “X” can be any emotional state for example peace, security, a heightened sense of well-being, promise of a better future, a rejuvenated sense of meaning and purpose, place or power, I desire, I want, I have. Sexual immorality finds its grounding in the "objectification" of other people. Think about the term "sex object."  Think of the use of images, the manipulation of surfaces, the airbrushed ephemera, and the pixilated ghost on a screen. We make others into objects to obtain that which only God can provide. We love objects and use people. We use people as objects. And what is it we hope to gain, perhaps the restoration of certain emotional ends such as a renewed sense of security or peace or power or place or assurance?

God created sex as a physical, emotional and spiritual experience, and petting, porn and sexual relationships before marriage is a partial representation of it. It is clearly just a substitute for the real thing. So the question is not what am I allowed to do but does it divert my devotion away from God, does is cause spiritual confusion and damages our discernment of right and wrong. Does it give you a “deluded heart” which misleads you? Sexual immorality grieves the Holy Spirit within us and then we feel sick mentally, emotional and physically afterwards. A sexual addiction is connected to your thoughts, have you build an altar for sex thoughts in your mind, where sexual thoughts seem to rise above everything else. This thought process will mean going through life loving things and using people rather than using things and loving people.

If you want to let go of this and you want to love people rather than things you can pray this prayer: 

"Father God, I confess that I have sinned through idolatry in these specific ways:  ……(name them all).   I see these activities and attitudes as sin and I ask Your forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Lord I ask that you will help me destroy any high places I have made in my mind for sin.  Thank you, Lord, for this forgiveness I have in Jesus. Father God,  I turn from my sinful ways now, and I surrender every area of my life that has been a source of idol worship: ....(name them all).   I cast my idols behind me and close the door to them once and for all.  I break the altars of sin I have made in my mind and wash them away with the blood of Jesus Christ.  I commit myself to serving and worshipping God.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen. I renounce my sin of idolatry and any evil spirits associated with it.   I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to depart from me and trouble me no more.  I close the door to these idols, bar it with the cross of Christ and seal it with the blood of Christ.  In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen."

Day 55                                                                                                            15 July 2011

My Dearest Child,

The words you speak are not your own. My Spirit is within you and you will know when to speak and when to refrain from speaking. The work you are doing is not your work, it is Mine. Your work is not your own doing in your own strength and might; it is done in My strength and might. I am a God of judgement and a God of war as well as a God of Love. You must continue to gather My children together. You must proclaim My Word and tell my people to continue to take back what the enemy has stolen from them. I will use you to rebuke those who rise against Me, saith the Lord. Call on My strength. When you encounter evil forces go forth in boldness. Use the power of My Name, My Word and My Blood. Rebuke every enemy in My Name. Do not ignore the world the flesh and the devil. Overcome them by the word of your testimony and the power of My Blood that was shed for you. You must continue to give this message to My people.

                                                                        With Love your Father

Day 54                                                                                                            14 July 2011

There are Biblical meanings for symbolic methods we as Christians use:

So what does all this mean and why can we use things in the physical to symbolise our beliefs and what difference will it make?

1 Cor 15:46 “But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual”

God’s principle namely that we need to give expression to the domain in the physical first, before its spiritual equivalent will materialize in the spiritual realm

A prayer shawl or Tallit:

ü  The prayer shawl or tallit in Hebrew is a sign of God’s covering and authority

ü  To humble ourselves under that authority is to wear the prayer shawl whilst praying

ü  It also represents the covering of the Holy Spirit

Anointing oil:

Exodus 30:23-29 “Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh 500 shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, 250, and 250 of aromatic cane, and 500 of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. And you shall make of these sacred anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil. With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony, and the table and all its utensils, and the lamp stand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils and the basin and its stand. You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them will become holy. You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests.”

ü  Myrrh                To be a true disciple to God, can be bitter but gives of a lovely aroma

ü  Cinnamon         A life of passion and integrity towards God

ü  Fragrant Cane   A powerful relationship with God and seek righteousness and truth.

ü  Cassia              A life of worship, bowing down before God

ü  Olive oil                        Binds all the spices together to form unity

Shofar

The horn of a wild goat is the shofar of the Bible, the horn sounded in the seventh month at Yom Teruah [Feast of Trumpets] and at the close of Yom Kippur [Day of Atonement]. It is reminiscent of the ram caught in the thicket, tangled in the bush by its horns during the binding of Isaac. It is the sound of God’s provision of perfect Atonement.

Leviticus 25:9-10 “9 Then you shall sound abroad the loud trumpet on the

tenth day of the seventh month [almost October]; on the Day of Atonement

blow the trumpet in all your land. And you shall hallow the fiftieth year and

proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee

for you; and each of you shall return to his ancestral possession [which

through poverty he was compelled to sell], and each of you shall return to his

family [from whom he was separated in bond service].”

A shofar was blown to announce an important event such as the alarm of war or the coming of peace. It is the sound of victory, as with Joshua and the city of Jericho. The shofar was sounded during the greatest event in all Israel’s history… the LORD’s marriage proposal to His People and the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai [Shavuot]. The blowing of the shofar is the only specific commandment for Yom Teruah the “Day of the shofar blast”. Just as the trumpeters used to announce the presence of mortal kings, the shofar is used by Israel to proclaim the Coronation of the King of Kings, Yahweh the Messiah, GOD THE KING.

 “Wake from your [moral] sleep! You are asleep! Get up from

your slumber. You are in deep sleep. Search for your behavior.

Become the best person that you can. Remember God, the

One who created you!”

Sound the trumpet! Anoint your heads, humble yourselves and pray to our Father

Fill the air with proclamations of the King!

Day 53                                                                                                            13 July 2011

Walk for life

By Silma van Deventer

Looking back at your life do you wish you never made that choice or took that turn, maybe you at a place where you regret a decision you have made bringing you at a place of regret, shame, stagnation and depression. The past cannot be changed that we know neither can you take back what you have said. Every day of our lives we make mistakes, nobody is perfect. Changing your attitude and adapting to your incident you might just learn something rather than being a baby. Nobody said it was going to be easy, but you do have the ability to walk down

Experience Lane

and become skilled at life rather then carrying a stone of regret with you.  It is never too late to change circumstances no matter how bad it seems and if you do not have control over it let it be, time will heal that wound and remorse will knock at you door. It is your choice to open and walk through it.

When you where a baby lying in your cradle, fragile, dependant and content, you did not need much other than be fed and changed, totally dependant. Then you got a bit older and it was your first day at school. Wearing your uniform, carrying a oversized, box suitcase instead of dragging your security blanket behind you, you where ready to face the world, still innocent and no wisdom you took on the challenges of life because you where convinced that you are all grownup now. Saying your goodbyes to your trusted friend the dummy, it was no longer applicable to hold on to certain securities, still being dependant but starting to grow as a person and developing your personality. A personality has to grow and develop as you go along so that you can be strong enough to face life’s blows, experience is what molds you, but let’s argues the fact, “my dummy worked for me then why not now?” It would be a valid argument from a hypothetical perspective, but when you put it to practice it would be furthest thing from the truth.

Assume for an instant you are fresh out of varsity, you have been working for a year or two, you starting to grow in confidence of who you are and what you are capable of however this is still in a framework of reference that you have adopted and made your own in the past by your parents example or friends. You have now in truth started you’re journey in the real world with your nappy still securely tied around your waist.

It is times like these that you need to stop and re-evaluate your life, where you at, how you got there, and what you need to change within yourself to adapt to your changed environment. Put the same amount of energy into your life that you would in a business or a project, you owe it to yourself. Not all changes are as evident as cradle to school but if you do not change you would die inside. The world changes, friends change, circumstance changes even your day’s change, constant change that you need to deal with and adapt to. Apply your experiences to your life and make it better, try harder ad never give up.

Look at last year where you where at, compared to this year maybe single and now leaving your mere self-absorbed existence in the past and moving into the compromising fifty percent of your life stage. Maybe you where married and this year you are facing a, coming out of nowhere, divorce. What ever changes you are facing you need to move on; you cannot reach new shores if you are anchored in the harbor. You need to let go of the past and move forward. Stop drifting in the waters of shame and regret. Sure there is a period of mourning to express the pain you are feeling but you will have to make the break at some point so that the healing process can begin. Pursue you must and pursue you shall. Be bold, vigorous, focused, alert and passionate.

Complications you will endure, what exactly no one can tell, but if you made the choice to move on roll up the anchor and set to sea. It does not take a genius to know that the sea is unpredictable so their will inevitably be many things to deal with along the way. Destinations, especially when it involves other people, never come with a list of “how to do or what to do”. You may get a few hits or storms along the way but looking back at the end of a voyage it served a purpose.

Inside you will always stay the same person, you are not lesser a YOU, because of your circumstances, but we need to adjust to our environment and not by one set of rules because every situation is different in life. When life changes around you so should you, it does not make you a weaker or more feeble person than the other it just makes you adaptable, compatible, faithful and dependable. It is not your behavior that defines you, it is what you believe in, who you are inside and what you dream of. It is the same as believing that your character changed every time you changed according to your circumstance. You need to adjust your behavior without compromising your character.

Do not leave your circumstances in state of infancy. Grow up and learn, make it your own. Your walk in life depends only on you; nobody can make the decision for you. People can only encourage you and support you. Nothing happens without a reason, you are placed in that situation to learn from it and pass on the knowledge or benefit from it yourself, and if you make the same mistake again see it as an opportunity to be better this time. Regret should not be part of your vocabulary, you cannot change the past, learn to forgive yourself and stop looking back you may just turn into a pillar of salt.

Day 52                                                                                                12 July 2011

There is so many books out there for young girls that has not been married before, but what about the advice we need when we are divorced and getting back into the dating scene, maybe you just a little bit older than the newly graduate (being gentle on some of our ages) and you need to know. There are his kids, your kids, our kids to consider. There is definitely an x-wife in the picture and two homes, so how should we handle our relationships responsible?

1. Make God centre and Head of your relationship
2. Do you have similar vision and desires
3. Are you equally yoked in all areas
4. Are you best friend
5. Can you pray together
6. Do you bring out the best in each other
7. Do you miss each other when you not together
8. Do you communicate
9. Is he/she well respected within their local church, by family, friends, colleagues and the community at large
10. Can you visualise him being priest in the home
11. Are you honest with each other with the highest integrity, sincerity and trust
12. Are you both faithful, loyal and steadfast
13. Can you both say "sorry" and admit fault if/when necessary
14. Is there romance, affection in the relationship
15. Have you both completely dealt with the past (including past relationships) or are you carrying baggage
16. Does forgiveness come easy in the relationship and leave what lies behind and press on towards the goal set before us in Christ Jesus
17. Have you met his/her family
18. Is he/she in a good relationship with your children and is good with and/to your children
19. Have you got peace
20. What is your spirit saying to you
21. Fear and being nervous are two separate things. Fear is not from God and should be dealt with.
22. Are you HAPPY
23. Can you cry and laugh together
24. Financially are you both financially sound and not deep rooted in debt
25. Are you sensible with finances
26. Responsible - in terms of holding down a job
27. When your relationship is established you need to go to the same church. Being in two different churches invariably means two different visions/pathways.
28. “Attraction” do not get so caught up in how sexy/gorgeous that you over look the spiritual side of things which is more important.
29. Loving someone is a choice.
30. a) Spirit b) attraction c) heart d) maturity ect.
31. Making love is for marriage and it demonstrates a culmination of love shared/expressed between you. It is an integral part of marriage and not just based on "needs". Try to keep your physical relationship for marriage. There are many ways to express love to each other in the meantime

Day 51                                                                                                                        11 July 2011

Fruits of the flesh

….you just met him. The ‘him’ you’ve been waiting for your whole life. Gorgeous perfection, delicious…..his body a mountainous landscape you’re dieing to explore. Sculptured by the Master, masculine magnificence defines him as feast for the eyes. His mere presence is an invitation for hours and hours of ‘happily ever after dreams’ and then….Warning signals flash in red. Alarm sounds. Be alert, be alert. A heavenly defense team is deployed to assist you in your moment of love struck moral combat.

The urge to undress seductively is strong….Slowly you take of your service sandals. The sandals you received for serving God in all walks of life. You forgot the Diesel sneakers of discipleship you prayed for to finish the race with…..This is not the time nor is the place to talk the walk you chose…this now you….and him. As you struggle ahead barefoot the angelic team run ahead to remove the rocks and stones in your way as devilish thorns are waiting, ready to devour the fresh flesh of un-scorned toes. The Holy Spirit releases his top marketing executives to show you’re the new catalogue of shoes……. But the him…the one’s whose footsteps you are blindly following….

All reasoning is beyond you….it is you and him, alive and breathing. Every second is an invitation and then…..you accept. The thunderous overwhelming pleasures of pain and fantasy, reality and dream that throw you into a spiral and within the haze of a whirlwind you are facing the hypnotic eyes of The Snake. A drop of juice dribble down on your chin as your teeth dive into the fresh flesh of the forbidden fruit and you know the time is here to face THE NAKED TRUTH

Written by Liezl Wagenaar