Matthew 6:33

When Jesus said to seek first He kingdom and His righteousness, He wasn't asking or telling us to ignore those things that make up our day to day lives- the rent, the bills, food, clothes, etc. He was just telling us to make sure we don't have it backwards. In the verses before that He tells us not to worry. He doesn't say, "Don't need", "Don't plan", or "Don't want". He says, "Don't worry".Why? Because" your heavenly Father knows that you need them" God made us, and He made us to live on earth, this earth, at this time. He is fully aware of and intricately involved in the details of how things run here. He knows what we need to love here...He also knows and reminds us often that this earth is temporal, there bodies are vessels, tents, containers, a means to an end, and that 'end' is eternity with Him. But he is fully aware of the fact tat for there to be an end there must be a means, and He is the sovereign, loving Father who has it all under control.The ends, the means, the containers, its all in His very detailed, awesome plan- a plan that is motivated by the passionate, relentless love that draws Him to us!!!

Weakness...

"The same power that conquered the grave lives in me..." Hillsong United

Ephesians 3:20 says something similar, " ...according to His power at work in us..."

I am filled with such excitement as I look to the future. So many possibilities, so much opportunity to make an eternal difference in so many lives.The life I always desired( even when I didn't realize it) is before me, waiting for me to 'jump in'. All of this, however, also brings me closer to the place of dependence...on Him. It's not a place of weakness. It is a place where my weaknesses are seen for whast they are- weaknesses! At the same time, the very same time, I can ay wiht the Apostle Paul in 2 Cor 12:10, " Therefore, I will boast all te more gladly about my weakness, so that Christs' powe may rest on me." I will not be shy/embarrassed about teh fact that on my own I am scared, I am emotionally incapable of 'handling it', I don't ahve enough money, I don't ahve enough talent, I lack in so many ways...so I offer all thse things to Him as an opportunity for Him to 'show up and show off' on my behalf! Once again, I am His needing and needy child and His is my Perfect Father.The one who...
"is able to do immeasurably more than allwe cn ask or imagine according to His power that is AT WORK WITHIN US, to Him be glory..."

From "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan...

" This place of trust isn't a comfortable place to be; in fact it flies in the face of everything we've been taught about proper planning.We like finding refuge in what we already have rather than in what we hope God will provide. But when Christ says to count the cost of following Him, it means we must surrender everything. It means being willing to go without an extra tunic or a place to sleep at night, and sometimes without knowing where we are going..."

" He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through"

" But love your enemies, do good to them and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful just a s your Father is merciful."Luke 6:34-36

"When it's hard and you are doubtful GIVE MORE."

Luke 14:12-14

A Perfect Gift...

The past month has been...I don't know how to describe it, really, but it's definitely been good, great, amazing in so many ways...


This absolutely amazing guy in the picture there with me has been a huge part of why I've had such an awesome month, not because this month has been all about him, or because my life is all about him. Rather, he has weaved himself into my life, and, in the most beautiful way, the most loving way, he has brought me closer to the place I desire to be- at the feet of the One I love!!!... I have learned lessons in faith, 'letting go', receiving... I have come to know God's goodness in such a real way, I have forsaken fear for faith and am ready to go where I know He is leading me...I have learned to hear clearly as He speaks to me...I love it...I am so thankful for the perfect gift He has given me in giving me Lungile...

Only You...

Only You

David Crowder

Take my heart, I lay it down

At the feet of you whose crowned

Take my life, I’m letting go

I lift it up to You who’s throned

And I will worship You, Lord only You, Lord

And I will bow down before You only You Lord

Take my fret, take my fear

All I have, I’m leaving here

Be all my hopes, be all my dreams

You're my delights, be my everything

And It’s just you and me here now

Only you and me here now

He calls me His Beloved, His Child, His Friend...

From Christ For the Nations Institue

Jesus the most beautiful
Name of all names
Jesus the only Name
that brings healing and strength

When I speak Your name,
Mountains move, chains are loosed
When I speak Your name,
Darkness flees; it has no hold on me

Jesus, most beautiful name that I know
You're the exalted One
Jesus, You have the power alone
You lift the lowly one, Jesus

Jesus the most wonderful
Name of all names
Jesus the only Name
that brings freedom and hope

Be exalted, Be exalted
Be exalted higher and higher!!!!

Zim pics and details coming soon! :-)

" If I testify about Myself, My testimony is not valid. There is Another who testifies about Me, and I know that the testimony He gives about Me is valid." John 5:31-32...

I read John 5 yesterday, and was going to read chapter 6 today, but when I opened my Bible this verse from chapter 5 stood out to me...

I learned many things from the most amazing man ever, Lungile Ncube while I was in Zim, and one of the things I learned was that I really do have an unhealthy concern for what people think of me. Now, I strongly believe in being an example and living my life aware of the fact that I am being 'watched'. I believe I need to be accountable to people and should be open to advice, correction, etc, but at the same time, I cannot let people's opinions (good or bad) determine the decisions I make in life....

In the verse above, Jesus said, He knew that the testimony His Father gave about Him was valid. The more I know what God says about me, what He thinks, and truly believe that, the more freedom I will have to live the life that He has called me to live( a life that will be filled with challenges and opposition and trials and times of questions and doubt and being 'alone' etc)...this is one of those things that seems obvious, and we talk about all the time, but some of us a little slow and take a while to get it! :-)