Oh How He loves us!
Spread the Fragrance
I have a confession to make J
When I was single and “oh so searching” I always imagined my “date for the month” to have an invisible wish-list of his “future-wife-to-be” Needless to say, it forced me to approach each  date with caution, and I couldn’t help but rate myself against this “very important” list (which I didn’t actually read!).
Looks - 6/10; 
Flow of conversation -8/10, 
Spiritual connection -2/10.....
and so the list went on and on. 



Afterwards I would find myself hopeless and depressed, dreaming to one day be all that the list requires me to be. It was a very frustrating exercise, especially because I didn’t really know what was written on it. I would make up romantic stories of how (by some huge miracle) I would be transformed from a maid in the dungeon to a beautiful Cinderella at the ball. I would listen with envy while my starry eyed girlfriends elaborated on their awesome fairytales of how they met their Mr. Rights. And when I went home alone, I would analyse and compare myself against these fortunate princesses – trying to figure out the secret behind unconditional love. 


I would question myself. Am I beautiful enough? Am I pure enough? Am I intelligent enough? Am I fun enough? Am I enough ...period?
So, when I eventually met my prince (or King...:), I was completely unprepared to be loved U N C O N D I S I O N A L L Y. Sometimes I am still surprised at marriage. My husband does not see my imperfections (and it is not because I am perfect!), rather he chooses to be blind to it. There are no lists in his mind – no rules, no expectations to meet. Believe me....marriage puts it to the test, and it is the truth. I can go days without looking pretty.... My husband accepts me when I am grumpy, in a bad mood, when I leave the kitchen dirty, when I don’t feel like doing something fun.....the list goes on and on! 


Oh....how he loves me!
Some might lift an eyebrow and ask with a shocked expression: Do you leave the kitchen dirty? Others would recommend I go for a make-over and remind me that “men look with their eyes!”And I should definitely apologise for my “drastic mood-swings!” This is not the way it should be.....
But.....I don’t really care because.....
Oh how my husband loves me!
There are many Christian women walking around thinking that God has an unwritten wish-list of “how a Christian should be.” A Christian woman must be a good wife, she should have a calling (something to aspire to), she should be rich or poor, depending on her current convictions, she should be beautiful, be attentive to the needs of others, be adventurous, be a good hostess, should never complain but always be in a good mood, always encourage her husband and help him fulfil his potential and should be a “high flyer!”  She must be called to the nations, and miracles should be part of her daily life. The list goes on and on.....
Some know that God does not have an unwritten list, but they have an unwritten list for themselves and for others. When you’re in their presence you always feel as if something is lacking....as if there is nothing that can’t just be.....You quickly find yourself becoming discontent with life and with yourself when you encounter someone with “the list.” Your spirit starts grabbing at futile stuff, trying to justify your seemingly “ordinary” life. You start dreaming bigger, talking more.....wanting more!


Where did these lists come from?
Our culture, background,  country and the world's "definition of success" normally give us those "invisible" lists. The expectations of people, of society and of church imprints a picture of how we are suppose to be....and if we are not.....we can’t get unconditional love from God. It is quite ironic.
We are quickly taught by people that we have to be part of something big, we have to proof our love for God in order for Him to choose us! We should be ALL that the list requires......
No wonder God says in Romans 12:2 that we should not “conform to the culture of the day.”


Some might see the benefits of having this invisible list....
I've noticed that in most situations the list gives someone a strange sense of security. This "invisible" list gives any woman something to boast in.  If a woman manages to achieve most of the things society requires (the list that no-one has read!), she will feel valuable and completely good enough. She will even be quick to let others know about it. It is quite strange. The list measures her life according to the amount of 10/10’s she gets (and she normally rates herself) or whether other people approve. This list weirdly enough gives her "unwritten" positive feedback that creates a picture of who she thinks she is.


Scripture calls it pride.
Which makes it quite difficult then to understand that according to the Word, God loves the church the way a godly husband loves his wife....without any lists.


There are no expectations, no standards and no rules.

Can this be true?

 Society or our culture or even church may ask:
Are you sure that God does not see a woman's imperfections, because the list says a woman should be perfect?
Can it be that He does not mind if she looks sloppy in the Spirit or even in the flesh, because a woman should be walking by the Spirit and look beautiful?
Are you sure that God accepts her even if she can’t get to all the religious duties on the list? Does that not show her lack of passion for God?
Does God really love her U N C O N D I T I O N A L L Y?


The answer is a huge and emphatic YES!


Oh....how He loves us!
And it is true.....there is no "invisible" list!
He is excited about us!
The more He loves us, the more we become ourselves....content, at peace......not lacking...not having to be perfect - yet strangely enough we become perfect in our faith that God loves us unconditionally! The more we live in the freedom of "no lists," the more we become who we were predestined to be. 
The more we accept His love, the more we become the women we are called to be – blossoming, beautiful......blessed!
We can have faith in God’s love, His supernatural, covenantal, exceedingly wonderful love the way a bride has faith in her  husband's love!
May our faith be rooted not in the lists we try to achieve, but in the knowledge of His love!
Oh....because He loves us!


Take some time to listen to the song below, and let the love of God overwhelm you.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWgeUrD4MHI

 Ef 3:16-19
May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].
May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,
That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it].
1 comments | | edit post
Stop the looting!
Spread the Fragrance
I've never seen anything like it. Teenagers running around with TV's, bikes, shoes, computers - it seemed strange. I am use to seeing people going to shops in a civilised manner, waiting at the check-out to pay.....but these kids broke windows, helped themselves to the biggest and the best....and they seemed unstoppable. The police only "held the line" while these looters walked pass the "once respected"  uniforms with an expression of victory.

The whole London was in disarray. Glass was scattered everywhere, dustbins overturned and cars were set alight. It was a mess. Politicians came back from holiday to see the great city in chaos, extra police units were called for help -yet it wasn't enough to get the teenagers back in order. The situation was completely out of control!

It is quite cereal to live in  London while something so extraordinary is happening. It was difficult not to get negative about the whole situation. The city was covered with a thick blanket of fear. Hopelessness filled the air. Most people felt disillusioned. People walked aimlessly through the streets searching for answers. Social workers and street pastors  talked to communities and listened to stories in an attempt to get clarity as to why the riots took place. The public was and still is very angry. Most are disappointed by the actions of the youth, while others try to shake off the feelings of uneasiness. People feel unsafe, hurt.....shocked.

We all have questions....why, how when, who?

The newspapers wrote the craziest stories and published pictures of the looters.  Sky TV and BBC also kept us up to date with the newest developments. You couldn't help but be amazed at the resiliance and perseverance of these presenters. Footage was shown of two determined presenters running with a camera trying to follow the crowd of looters, hoping to catch one of them in the act- and when police asked them to get out of the way they're were like: "Ok...hmm...yes....  anyway"  they looked around and continued without "getting out of the way!" Why should they if they can get a good story?

Another Sky presenter was reporting when his cameraman went "down"....and you could hear him in the background reporting in a panicked voice.... "it is hectic, things are out of control, my cameraman just went down....stop the riots! Stop the looting!" When the cameraman eventually "recovered" you could see a  few kids walking pass with a couple of  flat screens tugged away nicely under their arms....

Conversations circled around the riots. Some stories are still fun to tell ....

But the mood quickly changes when someone mentions the destruction that took place this week, and the old furniture shop that was burned down. You can't but shake your head in dismay when someone mentions the fact that the shop has been in the family for five generations, and it is now completely burned to the ground, because of the rebellion of teenagers!  

Everything in you just wants to shout:" Stop the looting!"

Many times I feel like this in my Christian walk. You frequently come across looters who try to  steal your joy, your peace, your faith, your hope and your dreams.  These looters normally don't even realise that they cause destruction, because they are two ignorant.They fill  your life with the garbage of false philosophies and wrong doctrines. Looters cover your mind with a wrong perception of God and intentionally  break the glass of your heart to leave you exposed and damaged.

Some even start fires in your life. The Bible says the tongue is a powerful organ, that can cause a whole forest to be set alight. You find fellow brothers and sisters criticizing, doubting or rejecting you with their words - and it sets precious promises alight in your life. One day you feel strong in your faith, the next day you search scriptures - trying to recover the lost revelations you once believed. And like the Brits, you feel discouraged and hopeless.

The questions start piling up - why did God let this happen? When did I start believing the wrong thing? How could this happen.....?

And after a while....the victim of looting become one of those who aimlessly walk through life searching for answers.....

Satan loves looting - he came to steal.  He loves taking what God gave as an inheritance - the biggest and the best. He is a professional who uses people to do his dirty work for him. He did it all through the Bible.

Satan stole the identity of the Israelites and made them slaves in Egypt.....
He stole the calling of Moses and made him wander in the desert searching for answers .......
Daniel and his friends were robbed of their country and spiritual community and was sent to Babylon.......

And some ignorant and blinded people were used to help implement Satan's plan.

But God had a better plan......

God is the unquenchable fire, the One who never destroys but only encourages, enhances, uplifts and restores. He builds His Kingdom in our lives and help us recover our original design.

God gives back what the devil has stolen, and make things even better than before.....

God revealed the calling of Moses through a burning bush that did not burn out.....
God revealed His way to the people of Israel by using a fire to guide them through the desert by night.....
God revealed His protection to the friends of Daniel that did not get burned in the fiery furnace...

And God gave back everything that was taken from them.....and gave them the glory of His presence, a miracle life full of wonder and made them the head and not the tail, above and not beneath....blessed and not cursed.

God also used a man to implement His plan. He used Jesus Christ His Son.

He gave everything that the devil tried to steal back to us  through the blood of Jesus Christ...and now we can take authority, put the looters back in their place, hand-cuff them in the Spirit and let justice take its course!

We are now free to walk in victory and not fear! We don't have to be hopeless any more, because God restored hope for us. We don't have to wander through life aimlessly because we are now called as the children of God to shine our light!

And now we can be used by God to encourage, enhance, uplift and rebuild the lives of those who are still the victims of looting.

We can reveal the unquenchable fire of God's love and give back Christ to those who are still walking aimlessly searching for answers!

Stop the looting!

1 comments | | edit post
A place of peace
Spread the Fragrance
I often hear the words: "Sales, no thank you, not for me. I don't like being under pressure!"





I am no different, which is ironic because I am a Sales and Marketing Manager.  People normally look at me with empathy when I mention my job title, because they know it's not always easy.

Sales pushes you around. You can't afford to have a comfortable day at work. There is always something or someone chasing you. When you make yourself a cup of coffee, you feel guilty for not calling a potential client, the one thing you want to ignore when your motivation is low.  Your monthly sales target constantly shouts in your ear, and new markets seductively lure you from the front. The anxious breaths of your boss keeps you on your feet,  even though you  never feel you  have solid ground to stand on. One promise today is a rejection tomorrow. One glimpse of hope today becomes a "deal gone bad" tomorrow. For you to survive in the cycle of sales you need many creative strategies, a good attitude and a lot of guts!

When I first started my career I didn't understand why God wanted me in a Sales environment.  I always wanted to learn the discipline of peace,  yet my reality at work seemed contradictory to my desire for rest. My job forced me to constantly venture out and demanded me to change, which made me feel unsettled and confused. When negotiations didn't seem to go my way,  I felt  the pressure of not achieving my personal goals, which made me feel worthless. In every situation I  had to learn to rethink, adapt, change, let go, take hold......whatever was expected of me to save the day.

Over the years I learned to do everything in my own strength.  Needless to say it didn't work. Not even my outgoing and persuasive personality could stand the test of sales. I thought it could, I was convinced, yet  I found myself hoping for a better job and a new season of security. I was overwhelmed and scared.  Everything in me wanted to fight, resist, run away, quit - anything to make the storms of instability and discomfort stop. Peace was far from me, and at one point I didn't know whether God listened to me. It seemed as if He didn't care, as if He was asleep in the boat while the storms were raging.  I was a desperate disciple using a bucket to get all the water out of the boat, running around frantically in the spirit. Every day felt like a national disaster, every failure a wave crashing down on me, and it felt as if God didn't do anything.

Now looking back, I've realised that  God was actually listening to my prayer  and orchestrated everything in my life to reveal His place of peace to me. But at that stage I was blinded by fear and failure.


The results of doing things out of my own strength was life-wrecking. The expectations of people always made me feel worthless. My own work ethics and need to show the world that I was "called for business" was a slave driver that kept me bound in Egypt making bricks. I was constantly at breaking point, burned-out or sick. The stress started effecting every area of my life. Until one day.....

I received a  powerful word of wisdom from my husband that changed the whole direction of my life - a word that only the Holy Spirit could reveal  to me, a word that was God inspired and life-giving.

My religious mind had to hear it a few times before it actually made sense, but when it did, I experienced complete freedom and joy. I didn't fully understand the word in a practical way, but my spirit immediately jumped when I heard God say:

Let your circumstances break your outer man so that My Spirit can be released.

WOW!
It took a while to sink in.

When I first heard the words it sounded as if God wanted to punish me, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense.God was not saying that He wanted to break me. God is a God of love and will always lead us into victory. No, He wanted to break the outer shell that was limiting the Spirit to flow, almost like when a seed falls to a ground and die to release a new plant. He wanted to use my circumstances to free me from the false identity I was holding on to. He wanted me to understand that He is God even if I feel He is asleep, and that I should start letting Him carve away all the things I try to control, so that I can come victorious out of the pit of fear and failure - with singing and dancing, and with a solid faith in God's goodness and wisdom.

 It was a life-changing revelation.

The revelation caused me to surrender to God wholeheartedly.  My soul still wanted to rebel because I had fear in my heart that everything would fall apart. It was scary to step out and allow the circumstances to happen, to not fight it or try to make things better, but to actually just let it happen. Our culture teaches us to not give up, yet God wanted me to give up. He wanted me to embrace circumstances, even if it was scary, so that the experiences I had could break the outer man, the falseness, the "no-substance", exterior, fear driven, victimised  man.

In that moment of revelation I came to realise that I took the place of God. I was the master of my destiny and not God. My blueprint of life was much more prominent than what God had in mind. And it made me discouraged.  I had to humble myself under the Mighty hand of God. The day I told God that I was willing for the pressure of my job to break me so that He could reveal something precious and beautiful to me, was a painful day, but strangely enough a calm peace came over me and settled in my heart. Fear disappears and was replaced with a deep knowing that God would rescue me from everything - because I was willing to make Him the Master of  my every waking moment.

Some circumstances that I have feared still happened, yet I found myself peaceful and unshaken by  words and actions. I saw everything happening to me as a tool God used to release more of His Spirit in me. God's plan was to restore peace in my life - and He could only do that if I allowed Him to take control of the disruptive and ungodly fear-driven behaviour that kept the Spirit of God captive in that area. I had to willingly give my life to God again and again.

Slowly God started revealing His Word to me - He used His access to my heart to teach me wonderful and amazing business strategies - plans that were born from the Spirit and not from myself. Every morning I found the courage to speak a blessing over my work. He created time for me to pray  before I went to office, and it left me empowered. I was now partnering with God,  working with Him to see His kingdom established, and it wasn't through my own efforts, but through His Spirit. The time I've spent with God helped me to find the place of  peace where God reigns. This place you can only find in His Kingdom. His peace surpasses all understanding, and breaths courage into your Spirit. When I allowed the Holy Spirit to help me deal with life,  I came to the understanding that God was never asleep, He was only in the secret place of peace.

Many of us experience "sales environments" in our lives where we feel trapped, devalued, scared and restless. God's Kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. I've discovered that in the areas where I'm not experiencing God's kingdom, God is not reigning.

The breaking of the outer man is necessary,  because it creates space for the Spirit to be released, and you will be able to function in your calling as a son or daugther of God. Romans 8:14 says that "those who are led by the Spirit, those are Sons (or daughters) of God."

Partnering with God taught me valuable spiritual lessons that shaped my career, gave me a fresh understanding of God's love and made me rest in the knowledge that God is not asleep, I should just go to the place of peace, the place where God reigns and my flesh surrenders.

Col 3:15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. 


Allow the Kingdom of God to reign in your life through peace, you are called to be Spirit led!
0 comments | | edit post