Not all initiative, the willingness to take the first step, is inspired by God. Someone may say to you, “Get up and get going! Take your reluctance by the throat and throw it overboard—just do what needs to be done!” That is what we mean by ordinary human initiative. But when the Spirit of God comes to us and says, in effect, “Get up and get going,” suddenly we find that the initiative is inspired.
We all have many dreams and aspirations when we are young, but sooner or later we realize we have no power to accomplish them. We cannot do the things we long to do, so our tendency is to think of our dreams and aspirations as dead. But God comes and says to us, “Arise from the dead . . . .” When God sends His inspiration, it comes to us with such miraculous power that we are able to “arise from the dead” and do the impossible. The remarkable thing about spiritual initiative is that the life and power comes after we “get up and get going.” God does not give us overcoming life—He gives us life as we overcome. When the inspiration of God comes, and He says, “Arise from the dead . . . ,” we have to get ourselves up; God will not lift us up. Our Lord said to the man with the withered hand, “Stretch out your hand” (Matthew 12:13). As soon as the man did so, his hand was healed. But he had to take the initiative. If we will take the initiative to overcome, we will find that we have the inspiration of God, because He immediately gives us the power of life.
When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision”—not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ.Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “. . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . .” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
—Deuteronomy 1:21
A word of encouragement is indispensable at the start of a new journey, especially when the journey demands your leadership. Joshua is no longer second chair. He is no longer the backup to all-pro Moses. Now it is his turn to lead. The people he leads have only known the leadership of the incomparable Moses. How will he lead? He will lead trusting the promises of God and without fear or discouragement! How is this possible? Because the real leader of God’s people hasn’t really changed! God is still God. His word is still true. His promises are still trustworthy. His might is still all-powerful.
Isaiah 50:10-11
The Message (MSG) 10-11Who out there fears God,
actually listens to the voice of his servant?
For anyone out there who doesn’t know where you’re going,
anyone groping in the dark,
Here’s what: Trust in God.
Lean on your God!
But if all you’re after is making trouble,
playing with fire,
Go ahead and see where it gets you.
Set your fires, stir people up, blow on the flames,
But don’t expect me to just stand there and watch.
I’ll hold your feet to those flames.
——–
When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given you to reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God fulfill His word. Abram went through thirteen years of silence, but in those years all of his self-sufficiency was destroyed. He grew past the point of relying on his own common sense. Those years of silence were a time of discipline, not a period of God’s displeasure. There is never any need to pretend that your life is filled with joy and confidence; just wait upon God and be grounded in Him.
But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Today is the first day of my liquid fast, to realign my priorities and offer it to my Savior, Jesus Christ. First question is, Who am I? and I found the answer in 1 Chronicles 17.
I AM GOD’S SERVANT.
1 Chronicles 17:16-27
The Message (MSG)
King David went in, took his place before God, and prayed:
Who am I, my Master God, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this place in life? But that’s nothing compared to what’s coming, for you’ve also spoken of my family far into the future, given me a glimpse into tomorrow and looked on me, Master God, as a Somebody. What’s left for David to say to this—to your honoring your servant, even though you know me, just as I am? O God, out of the goodness of your heart, you’ve taken your servant to do this great thing and put your great work on display. There’s none like you, God, no God but you, nothing to compare with what we’ve heard with our own ears. And who is like your people, like Israel, a nation unique on earth, whom God set out to redeem as his own people (and became most famous for it), performing great and fearsome acts, throwing out nations and their gods left and right as you saved your people from Egypt? You established for yourself a people—your very own Israel!—your people forever. And you, God, became their God.
So now, great God, this word that you have spoken to me and my family, guarantee it forever! Do exactly what you’ve promised! Then your reputation will be confirmed and flourish always as people exclaim, “The God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God over Israel, is Israel’s God!” And the house of your servant David will remain rock solid under your watchful presence. You, my God, have told me plainly, “I will build you a house.” That’s how I was able to find the courage to pray this prayer to you. God, being the God you are, you have spoken all these wonderful words to me. As if that weren’t enough, you’ve blessed my family so that it will continue in your presence always. Because you have blessed it, God, it’s really blessed—blessed for good!
—
As I have reflected how my 2011 went, i realized I have experienced so many unexpected blessings last year. In the eyes of the world, It might look like I didn’t accomplish anything because I didn’t earn fame and fortune, I wasn’t able to travel to the places that I dreamed to go to. But the breakthroughs in my family life, and the joy and contentment that I feel being where God wanted me to be, is just unspeakable. The blessings that come with giving value to family is just so overwhelming. And with that, thank You, most precious Father. Truly Your ways are not my ways. You’ve put me into place. You’ve humbled me. You’ve broken me to little pieces for me to reach into a realization, that apart from You, and apart from my family, I will never be joyful. And that joy will only come if I have accepted who I am, and what my role is in this world. I am, and will forever be, Your servant. And I know my place now. I will forever be grateful to you. And slowly You’re putting me back together. Molding me as that servant that you want me to be. Taking away (slowly but surely) that rebellious spirit in me, that “entitled” mentality that I have been holding on to forever, and that selfish diva attitude that You so hated. And I’m excited to ask, “what’s next, father? What do you want me to do next?”.
I have faith , Lord Jesus, that the promises that I’ve been holding on to will be fulfilled this year. And as early as now, I thank You. So much. Because, I don’t deserve any of it, but You’re giving them to me, solely through GRACE.
sharing my version of Kari Jobe’s song, Beautiful. Forgive the guitar playing, I’m a newbie.
Spanish sardines, scrambled egg, quinoa with turmeric, sprinkled with cayenne pepper.
I only learned about Quinoa (keen-wah) this holiday season. Bought the seeds & tried it out. It really tastes like rice, but the look & texture will take a bit of getting used to. Here are some health benefits I read from bodyecology.com:
1. Complete protein: it has 9 essential amino acids that are required by the body as building blocks for muscles.
2. It has Magnesium, which promotes normal blood pressure & regulates blood sugar levels, supports healthy immune system & keeps bones strong.
3. High in Fiber, which helps clean colon
4. Good source of Manganese & copper that act as antioxidants to get rid of dangerous cancer & disease-causing substances.
Also, in its whole grain form, may be effective in preventing & treating artherosclerosis, breast cancer & diabetes.
After reading this, I’m kinda drawn to it. Looks like I’m gonna be eating more of quinoa this year!
Made with whole wheat flour, flaxseed meal, almonds, muscovado sugar, canola oil, egg, almond extract, low fat milk!
Serve it with a drizzle of raw honey.
Yummeh!
Recipe: (I modified a muffin recipe i found in the internet)
2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
3 Tsp Baking Soda
1/2 Cup Muscovado Sugar
1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
1/2 Cup Flaxseed Meal
1 Egg, beaten
3/4 cup lowfat or skim milk
1/2 cup canola or olive oil
1 tsp almond extract
chopped almonds to place on top of the muffins
raw honey to drizzle when served.
It’s pretty easy to make 🙂 Preheat oven at 350C. Just mix all dry ingredients on a bowl, and on a separate bowl, mix beaten egg, oil, almond extract and milk. then pour and mix with the dry ingredients until you make a sticky batter. place in muffin pan, and place almonds on top of the batter. Bake for 10-15mins.
Up to All Good 