His Ways are not my ways..

Isaiah 55:9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts..."

So it has become apparent that God has a totally different plan for this blog.. Starting it, I wanted to share my revelations and inspirations that I came across throughout the day/week..etc. So the first note blog came out of my Quiet time... and I thought aha! Now let's do more intense QT so that we can get deep stuff to share... Well, what do you know 6 months to the next post. Was I not doing QT? I was. Was I not praying enough? Like Elijah I was praying.. So what was the problem??

As is with so many things that are led of God, sometimes we get so excited at the outcome and then convince ourselves that we have learnt His pattern (of working) and then we plug in our 'well' established formula and before you know it, we are producing:

1 +2 = 7 or 3-1 = 77. WRONG, uninspired, human centered stuff.

Listen, I'm not just talking about blogging.. I'm talking about all areas of life. The way He helped you bag that client, or market a product, get through a presentation/assignment - heck something as simple as make new friends. The secret is in Him. Him leading, ordaining your path, giving you specific instruction not at all to do with you - your brilliance, your charisma, your education... zilch!

There ain no way we're going to figure out the  secret formula.. and the sooner we learn that, the quicker we learn.. the more we submit and are able to be used as vessels for His use - remaining relevant as well as bringing about that awesome blog word, sermon, lecture, presentation, report, friendship, relationship... ok you get my drift.

Psalm 128:1 says "Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His Ways.."

(Fear the Lord (revere Him, submit to Him) and walk in HIS very very brilliant (Isaiah 55) ways..)

 That said, my plan for daily blog updates has been negated. I write when He says write.

Because He lives...

One of my favourite Church songs (I’m afraid to call it a hymn... I’m not sure it is.) is entitled “Because He lives”... And the song pretty much talks about what we can do as well as what we are/who we are because of HIM (Jesus, Our Lord, God) being alive… It’s really deep hey.

So this post is not about a song I really like but rather how it just became apparent that the words of our confession need to translate into what we practice and what we are about. So here I am singing, ‘Because He lives... I can face tomorrow...’ Then it hits me (as I’m doing dishes by the way – not the most spiritual of moments!). Ok for this to make sense to you, I have to give you some bit of background, some history…

So I’m a final year student just about to complete my second last semester at varsity. And you know what everyone’s question to me is: “So what do you plan on doing next year?” “What do you wanna do?” “What’s next?” “Honours? Masters? Work?” “And where? South Africa? Do you want to go back home? Perhaps Australia or the UK?” Ok you get the gist. To be completely honest with you – I HAVE NO IDEA! And for some time it was just one of those things I didn’t stress about because I’m the kind of person that knows that “it will eventually come to me.. Or it will be made clear... no need to stress – there’s no hurry” blah blah. Anyway – with the intensity and frequency that these questions started being posed to me, I began to think seriously about what I AM going to do next year, and yup – u guessed right, it started to stress bother me.

Now I’m not one to dwell on negativity and all and so, every time the thought would come to mind, I’d quickly shift my thoughts to something TOTALLY different... More to do with the here and now… I quickly became fearful (even though I was now pretending it didn’t’ bother me… it did). So I have these awesome girlfriends who I meet with at least twice a month – they are also my colleagues and it’s awesome how God just brought us together and has used us  to really minister to each other… Anyway, one of them – Tash, is graduating this semester. And what struck me at our last meeting was how relaxed she was about leaving varsity – not too sure about what awaited her but also not a mess about it. So composed (she normally is anyway) she just coolly replies, “It’s going to be interesting moving back home. It might not necessarily be easy, coz change isn’t easy. But it’s a new phase…” I can’t remember word for word what she said but you get it. It amazed me how she was so calm about it all!!

This evening we had our final meeting (with the rest of our workmates) and she said how she’d miss us (and it was going to be a fountain of tears), but Tash – managed to end off on a very rational note (are we surprised?? J) Anyway this evening, the words to this song really struck a chord with me and I felt it necessary to share it with Tash (still haven’t told her yet, I will) just to encourage her but also it was a serious revelation for me… Digest and confess and BELIEVE this word that you sing.. Make it true. Live it out.

  

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow

Because He lives, All fear is gone

Because I know – Who holds my future.

And life is worth living, just because He lives.

So.. I don’t know what next year holds for me, for my friends, for my family (yes, there are many variables).. And no, I don’t know where the road will lead me – or where it will end up. But one thing I do know. My God, Who conquered the grave, Who holds time in His hands, Who is eternal and according to Jeremiah 29:11 has only the best plans for me – HOLDS MY FUTURE – therefore I will face tomorrow, with no fear and I will live in the NOW, rejoicing at the prospect of the future.. Because HE LIVES!!!

Food for the soul..

So I promised to post today but I've been quite sick and so I'm sure the grace can be extended to me to have the posts up this weekend. Yes? Yay - thank you.

This food for the soul title.. It's what I get from my dear friends and their awesome blogs.. Serious truths that everyone needs to hear and APPLY:

Tash - She has some wonderful stuff on life and how you can PRACTICALLY live this relationship we got going with Jesus. Click here to check it out.

Kebone - She's got some intense Woooooorrrrd - Mh, yea.. see for yourselves here

And last but not least.. my girl Jasmine.. Wow, we've both come a long way and it's so amazing her insane passion for God and His stuff.. .radical this one.. check it out here

Hope you enjoy those..

Jesus loves you!!

Ms.  AngieO

Psalm Truths (pun intended!!)

SO I wrote that title and then went ooooooooooh...that's so brilliant! You know like, 'some truths' but I'm actually talking about Truth from Psalms so... it's a pun on the..ya you get it.

Mmh anyway. recently I decided to go through the book of Psalms and just really dig in. Funny how I've done some books over and over and other books are just a verse base. I'm sure you know what I mean - stop judging me.. I'm still growing!! :P 

So anyway the next couple (read: whole lot) of posts will be based on my study of Psalms. I've seen so many awesome Truths in the past couple of weeks - such profound lessons in each Psalm.. but Imma touch on at least one thing per Psalm else I'll be doing sermons online - "Hallelujah!" (yes yes, i struggle with reality and humility sometimes too.. He's still working on me!) *chuckles*

I've been super busy so I'm on like Psalm 12 today and still have to do the Psalm 2-11 posts.. Will get right to it Expect them from Thursday .. Maybe you can let me know what you think. 

Do i really want to know?//

No Angie.. Sharing is caring is growing.//

OK. :) :)

Lovies!

Angie.

P.S> yes I just had a conversation with myself. Once again.. STOP JUDGING ME!

Who is on your Advisory board?

Psalms 1 : 1- 3

Interesting how I've known this Psalm like for the longest time but reading it again today I just saw something new.. Isn't that something so amazing about God's Word? It's always relevant, so full of endless Truth, inexhaustible..but ah, I digress. What struck me??

Psalm 1:1.. BLESSED is the man who?? - does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.. What does that even mean? It's not related to where you are (literally) walking, neither where you are hanging out but WHO you are letting give input in your decision-making, choices.. Who is offering their advice? Who is suggesting direction?

The Bible says, if you are getting this advice from people in whom the Spirit of God does not dwell, or God Himself.. then umm.. you are not walking in the path of blessings AND blessedness...(baffles me why anyone wouldn't want this!) Contrast this with the guy who MEDITATES on God's word and whose DELIGHT is in God's law.. This person loves God's Word, thinks on it, discusses it and I take it.. shares in it with his/her brothers and sisters in Christ WHO are positioned then (based on God's Word and their own experiences that God has brought them through) to give advice.. LEADING to... 'Whatever He does prospers' (vs 3)

Is it surprising that the one who gets counsel from mere human minds is not blessed? Mortal, near-sighted human who can only operate on the present based on the past.. uh, no. I mean I want counsel from the God of Jer 29:11 Who said 'I know the plans I have for you.. to give u a future..to prosper you.." since he knows what's BEST for me, sees the end from the beginning..

Watch who you receive advice from.. Pick the people on your advisory board very wisely...

Not everyone who is in your life should have a say in your life. - AngieO.