Cindy’s Blog

Yesterday as I was filling in a contact form I came to the question – Who is your emergency contact?

Who is my emergency contact? I had to stop and think – who would you call if a car knocked me down in the street tomorrow?  Who indeed….

Family has moved away and I am now alone in a town, and I find myself in a blessed season of crossroads where I have lost friends and where I have deliberately cut toxic friends from my life.

After  a good amount of time had passed I put my pastor as my emergency contact, but I didn’t walk away feeling bad about myself because I know what I bring to the table in relationships and I know it is of value.

Today I got to thinking about how Jesus should be our emergency contact. He should be the first Person we run to when chaos, conflict, destruction and death arise. But is He?

Could it be that negative, toxic thoughts and seeds of bitter discontent are your emergency contact?

Is it maybe the family member who doesn’t follow Biblical principles?

Is it the friend who believes that a night on the town is what you really need?

Is it the person who will advise you to run away because that will solve your conflicts?

Does your emergency contact believe in prayer, fasting, the wisdom of the Word and spiritual warfare?

Does your emergency contact point you back to the fact that Jesus should be your emergency contact?

You see, when in an emergency you can usually think straight and logical if you remain calm. But in the aftermath when you realize your loss and pain – who do you go to? Beware who speaks into your life at this point. Plan your emergency contact beforehand:

• Run to Jesus daily now, so that your relationship will be strong enough that you run to His arms in an emergency and do not drift away
• Have an equal or a mentor that has a strong hand that helps and does not hurt

Isn’t it funny how we forget to rely on God when things go wrong even though He lives inside us 😉 and how we will most certainly forget again…

(a post written on surface level about a subject deeper than the ocean…..)

The Bride has made herself ready…… Whoa…. I read that again. And again. She has made herself ready. Herself. She. Made Herself.

The Church is to prepare Herself for her Bridegroom. She knows her Bridegroom loves her but this is where She is to be actively busy. If She loves the Bridegroom and doesn’t want anyone else then she will be getting ready. Her Bridegroom will not have to beg Her or try to convince Her. Yet it seems that way, doesn’t it?

The art of first love is lost on us. People do not understand it because their frame of reference for true love does not match the biblical meaning.

True love? Well, we can divorce later if it doesn’t work out. Let me test-drive a few partners before I have to marry. You love me more than I have ever been loved so let me settle because love might not come around again and then I will be all alone. Yes, I love you but I have extra needs so I have a few extra pieces on the side…..

We have NO idea what true love is. We live in a society where all sorts of media has replaced meaningful relationships. Where virginities are stolen from youngsters and so love and power are confused and intertwined. Marriage is not forever. Love is actually lust. And if you are not my idea of perfect you are worth nothing. A society where sex can be bought, stolen and even demanded. A society that does not know what true biblical love is.

I wonder if the concept of a Bride readying herself is lost on us too. Do we love our Bridegroom with our whole hearts….or do we have extra pieces on the side for our enjoyment. Are we test driving other partners before we settle down as the Church? Are we preparing to wear white to the marriage supper? Are we prostituting ourselves or are we waiting and preparing?

These are hard questions….and the answers are harder to accept. Yes, grace exists….but that grace should be enabling us to wait and prepare. Not squander…..

Our Bridegroom loves us with a love that cannot be fathomed by us. It is beyond our understanding. But let us learn how to love Him with a love that waits only for Him. A love that will accept no other loves. A heart that beats only for Him. May the Holy Spirit awaken this love in our hearts. Love that stays on the straight and narrow. The Bride in Biblical times that keeps checking out the window for when her betrothed will visit. A Bride who could not even contemplate not walking down the aisle to meet her God.

First Love ❤

True Love ❤

And a Bride that makes Herself ready.

 

Have you ever been somewhere at the perfect time and had a wow moment? Life could have gone a dozen different directions in that time frame but you happened upon something at the perfect time? A gift from God that usually happens in nature?

I had my moment yesterday. I was somewhere at the perfect time. The sun was at just the perfect angle to catch a mirror and  make rainbows indoors ?? …are you thinking its not much? It doesn’t take much to make my heart happy and I love unexpected surprises that happen when I’m alone ? teeny tiny God-moments that open up a conversation between God and me. I could have been there five minutes later and missed it AND missed a time of thanking God.

It got me thinking about what we call quiet times. And structure, formula, set routines. You see, I can’t talk to God like that. In practical everyday duties I need structure but when it comes to relationships – the same thing over and over doesn’t work for me.
So quiet times are different everyday for me. Maybe its quiet. Maybe its crying. Maybe its singing. Maybe its loud. Even the songs change. Today it may be an old hymn from childhood. Tomorrow may be a new praise song. Maybe it will be my own song. Maybe there won’t be a song. Maybe I use a devotional. Maybe its my favourite audio Bible. Everyday is different. And its like if its the perfect time….the Son will reflect off me like the sun reflected off that mirror….and I too will make beautiful praise and thank You rainbows ???

Today I have some thoughts after listening to Job.
I was first of all wondering if he was super over-protective over his kids. He sacrificed on behalf of them every morning. And this may have meant he was upstanding as a parent…..but on the other end it would have created (maybe) very lazy children who were covered even if they sinned without actually bringing an offering….its a thought to ponder and it kind of reminds me of us when we lean too far on the grace side ?
Continuing with Job – his wife also lost her children. I can understand her “curse God and die” statement. She had also lost. And her reaction sounds more human than Job’s. She also lost but she did what we do all too often….we run from God and not to God.
The Book of Job reminds me of concentric circles….ripples that continue to be felt long after the initial event. Job’s wife suffered even though this was his test. And Job’s friends were tested even though this was Job’s test. Families of addicts understand the negative aspects of concentric circles. What Job was experiencing was directly affecting all in his inner circle.
And the question that I hear under all his lamenting sounds so familiar ……”But I loved You God” and “I didn’t ask for this” ….we ask those questions over and over in many different ways just like Job…
I loved the community scripture he flung out in chapter six from verse fourteen to thirty (Message Bible). Community. Brotherhood. Speaking the truth in love. Not giving up on past bonds. I love it – bam ?  – the hard part of community…

“…we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good…” This scripture from Romans is quoted often.
I am sure this takes circles, and some circles we don’t see, other circles others don’t see, we just have to know deep down that we trust God enough to believe it. I don’t think your circles are good if you have disobediently messed up your finances or your relationships or your health. When we do that we put ourselves on the throne and the circles that emanate are negative. But when our motives were on track and we can also say, “but I loved You God” ….then know that the circles that move from your hardship will be good.
Just like Job’s circles touched those around him as well as himself  in a negative fashion, think how far the circles of his testimony of God’s restoration has reached. That in the year 2017 we can still rejoice with Job after crying with him ❤.
I have always believed in God as the God of restoration. I had always planned to name my first child with the same name as one of Job’s next children. I probably still will.
Never forget that what you do today affects your friends and family tomorrow. Never forget that when we go wrong there is restitution. Never forget that God hears every word we speak and also sees our inner heart. Know that life is tough. Know that God will visit with you in the toughest times if you cry out to Him. Never forget that He will restore. If it has been stolen it WILL be restored. Sit on the ash heap…but keep your gaze upwards while you’re there ??

Some days it happens. Especially when you’ve been trudging for a while. It happens. You get a day where you just love Jesus. Where nothing has worked out but you’re grateful anyway. Where life may be hard but your heart is blessed anyway. Where the burdens don’t hurt quite that much because your soul feels lighter. It just happens. And you sit back and marvel at what Christ has done in your life. It doesn’t matter that others can’t see a change in your circumstance because the change has been inside…an inner shift….the moving away from a negative thought pattern….the grateful that replaces the pity….the forgiveness that was finally meant because you realized it wasn’t important to hold it anymore… The opening of the hands a little more than yesterday….the acknowledgement that God has not forgotten you….the gentle reminder that life goes on anyway and beauty is still there even if its understated….these minute shifts that fill a heart that yearns for her Maker. And it just sorta happens. And you can take that deep breath and surrender even the hard bits. Life is beautiful once again….and it would not have happened had I given up a day a month a year ago. It’s two feet that have realized they are stable enough on their own and they don’t need to limp or drag anymore. It’s when the valley was your home and you reached the sunrise without even realizing that you had gained altitude. And its the knowing beyond a doubt that’s God’s hand is still beneath you….maybe it always was? And it just happens. And how the gratitude grows with each stronger breath and each surer step. And yet the outside is still the same. It’s like a secret between Abba and me. I good secret. A blessed secret. I’m grateful. And it just sorta happened. It’s like summer arrived at the moment you thought winter would last forever ?

There is beauty in the strangest places. It comes Unexpectedly. Blessed with a trip to the city – when I left for home I had a question in my soul…..why was there beauty this time?
You see, I dislike the city, I dislike winter in the city. I dislike the noise, the smog, the busyness of the city. But as I had a chance to walk in early morning warmth and take in creation from sunrise and again at sunset…..I was struck by the appreciation I had grown for the city. I pondered it and then I left it.

One month and a bit later I was blessed with another trip to the city. And yes, there are parts I still dislike. But once again I was struck by my appreciation and soul-expanding wonder of some elements of the city.

Tonight, I was utterly blown away by the beauty of the city night lights. The blue yellow and red twinkling on the distance has fed my soul and I am in the dark as to why. How do I find beauty in a place I dislike? But I do. And I thank God I do. It speaks to me that this world may be ugly ….but God. People may fail you …but God. Life as I know it may fall apart …but God. I may miss His voice in some seasons and some circumstances where I am bent on following myself…..but God. There is grace. There is beauty. There is promise. There always IS GOD. Always.

Wouldn’t it be more beautiful and rewarding to tune in instead of tuning out? I pray the Holy Spirit would unceasingly prompt us to tune in ….that we would be soul-blessed by gifts God has left us along our path….they are little pockets of beauty and joy that grow our appreciation of the small things. May you hear His whispers for yourself as a new day unfolds ❤

This last month in Children’s ministry, the Bible story has been the friends that brought the lame man to Jesus. I love the simplicity of hearing a bible story aimed at under fives. I always have. And although this story was focusing on the way friends treat each other; I was blown away at their tenacious faith. (and yes, God can speak to you through a kiddies version)
It’s like they refused to take their friend back home lame. Like they had drawn that line and said this far and no further. Too many people here? No logical way to get to Jesus? This far and no further! They lowered their friend down through the roof! Do you know how heavy an adult is to lug around?! They thought out of the box, but they were desperate enough to say “today is the day and we accept nothing else”. What if one friend had been the negative kind like the 10/12 spies; had said “its must not be our day”? …and they had gone home and carried their friend around for the rest of his life?
Their act of unrelenting faith made it into the Bible ?
I like nameless stories. It sounds pretentious when I say I want to be like Gideon, Joshua, Miriam…..but when there’s a nameless story in the Bible its easier to take it and put yourself in there.
Can I have unwavering faith? Believing that Jesus can heal to the point that I will push the envelope for a miracle I know is mine? Will I brave the uncomfortable work of lugging an adult to the top of a roof, the unconventional work of vandalizing a house, the ingenious work of coming up with a plan to tie ropes to a blanket, the work of coming up with a well devised plan to lower someone right to where Jesus was preaching, and the work of community that saw friends working together with the same strong faith?
Faith has history, faith takes work, faith uses my unique brand of creativity, and faith speaks of a future ?

As l looked up at our outdoor lights today I realized how many bulbs were missing. And it reminded me of us. Of how we stop shining, stop working, or we get discarded and never get replaced. And how we are one cord with many lights. How gloriously we could shine for God’s glory if we all stayed put and shone together ?

There are many, many reasons why we no longer shine. There are those of us who have had circumstances break us – and we are missing, either by our own choice or even by the choice of others. I pray that God would restore us regardless of whether or not the circumstances change.

There are those of us who have allowed sin into our lives, and so the power source isn’t lighting up our lives anymore. Light and dark don’t live together. I pray that our eyes be opened and that our hearts become broken to the point  that we return to God, and that we once again take our rightful place within the body.

There are those of us who are beside a bright bulb that draws attention to themselves in a manner that wows people. Maybe alongside that bulb it doesn’t look like your little light is shining. I want to say to those ones that God sees motives – never forget that. Take your eyes off your neighbour and keep it on your Lord. Your reward in heaven is far greater than any you would receive on earth.

And finally, there are the lights that choose to remove themselves to go and shine somewhere else.  Somewhere more convenient. When the night is too dark they leave. When the wind blows they leave and find another cord somewhere more sheltered. They choose comfort over calling. Ease over anointing.  I pray that we that fit into this category grow a backbone of relentless faith. I pray that God reveals Himself in such a mighty way that you would not even consider leaving the cord you are called to because you KNOW where you belong. Stop finding other places to shine when God has a destiny for you. Go with God and not with your own wisdom – you wont regret it – it may not be the easy road – but it will the right road ?

Go shine fellow light bulbs. Go shine where you are meant to shine. Go shine for God’s glory and not your own. Clear out your junk so that you can shine brighter. It is only together that we are a Body ?✌

The story of Ruth is not the love story between Boaz and Ruth but rather the love story of the love Jehovah has for His people.

There are three points that stick out strongly for me personally. (These are not theologically sound thoughts – just general thoughts that bounce around in this busy brain ? )

1) Ruth was a hard worker. Never ever underestimate the value of being a hard worker. Ruth was no slacker.

2) Ruth took her marriage vows seriously. She would not have stayed with Naomi otherwise. Never underestimate the value of integrity.

3) Ruth did not allow Naomi’s bitterness to infect her own soul. Which I find refreshing. Two woman living together and Jehovah had seemingly forgotten them….Ruth must have been secure in her knowledge of Jehovah to not mirror Naomi’s state of mind. Which in turn means that when the sons were alive the foundation of their religion must have been laid good and solid in Ruth’s understanding. Never underestimate the value of a good foundation.

4) Neither Boaz nor Ruth elevated themselves above others. “why when you could have the pick of any of the young men” and “why are you kind to me, a foreigner” speaks volumes to me. Never underestimate the value of humility.

And this is the love story to remind us that Jehovah has not forgotten us – despite or circumstances and losses. There is always hope ☺ ….our Redeemer has not forgotten us, and if it seems as if He has, continue with keeping the faith – and remember that your character counts. And never underestimate the God of the come-back ? He’s got this!

Hurry. Its a word that means you’re important. Well, you must be important if you’re rushing somewhere. Or you seem important. Hurry also means I miss out. I miss out on the moment, the present, the gift of now.

My neighbour has a worship bush at his front gate. I have no idea what flowers grow on that bush….but I call it a worship bush because when I walk by early in the morning…when I walk by slowly…..the most magnificent scent comes from that bush. So I call it a worship bush because when the world is quiet that bush does effortlessly what it was created to do and by doing that it brings glory to Elohim ?
Then yesterday I was rushing…I was thinking about something else that was in the future and I missed my moment of breathing in that glorious scent. All because of one word – hurry. I missed the moment..missed the present …and missed the gift.
It got me thinking about the many other gifts we miss each and every day just because we hurry.
And you know what – deep inside all of us we know, know that there’s a better way to live – the question though, is, are we brave enough to embrace a life that doesn’t hurry?
Are you brave enough to live in the moment today?