Excellent for God

 This week-end a group of us were challenged to "Do all things with excellence" and "Do all things to the best of your ability".

We were also reminded that everything we have, we have from God. I laid in my bed that night, looking around my room, realising that, what was all around me, I received it from God. God blessed me with the job to earn the money I needed to buy the things I have.

Let that thought rest for a minute......

It also means that I wouldn't have been blessed with the job and/or money if I wasn't doing everything to the best of my ability. Why? Because the more we give, the more we receive. The more we follow God, the more He blesses us.

It's wonderful knowing that we are all able to do everything to the best of our ability and achieve excellence because God has given us what we need to do this. We need to remind ourselves that we are not doing it for ourselves but to glorify God.

Yes, like all humans, this is not always easy to do especially when you are doing things you don't like but maybe this is the true faith tests. Testing whether we practise what we preach and do things to truly glorify God. Testing whether we can do tasks to the best of ability even when we feel like they are useless.

These thoughts make me sweat as it is a HUGE goal to achieve. And here, I thought writing a novel is big. Achieving excellence for God so I can progress and change. Achieving excellence for God by sharing excellence with others. Achieving excellence for God by trying to be humble and not selfish. This paragraph is wearing me out just thinking about trying to achieve all of this. Can it be done?

So, are you up to the challenge? Do you know that God has given you all the things you need to achieve EXCELLENCE?

Are you willing to strive for excellence to glorify God? Are you willing to share your excellence with others for God? Are you willing to give your best in all things for God? Are you willing to try?

No matter how you answered, DON'T GIVE UP! GOD NEVER GIVES UP ON YOU!

God's got your back if no one else does. It might seem we are going at it alone because we don't have a support system or people who understand but God does! God supports you when you fall and stand tall. God understands everything about you. God gave you the abilities you need.

GOD EXCELLENTLY CREATED EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU!

The Writer's World

“Have the confidence to never stop writing”

Mrs. Doreen Levin

Every third Saturday of every month, I attend a writer’s workshop as I love writing and I need to meet others like me for inspiration, feedback and motivation. I look forward to this time every month but this month’s meeting has stayed with me ever since. 

We had the honour and blessing in meeting, Mrs. Doreen Levin, a retired journalist. Mrs Levin is 85 years young and sits with attentive ears and a sharing smile. I watched and listened as I heard a story about a young lady who didn’t know she could write and had no training in journalism. However, she loved her husband and supported his writing and job by sitting at the typewriter, dancing her fingers across the keys while he dictated his next big article.

Before Mrs. Levin knew it, she was encouraged to give writing a go and discovered that she was (and still is!) very talented and had the instinct to “show not tell” a story. She shared a few of her favourite stories she remembers that made her laugh, cry and creeped her out.

Tears welled in my eyes as I was looking at a woman who lives my dreams, my passions and had so many interesting journeys. I met a woman who lost early in life like me yet still embraces life to the fullest and sees every day as a new adventure, a new sunrise and a fulfilling sunset. 

  

After silent writing for about an hour, we each share what we have written and we all sat in rapture as we listened to Mrs. Levin describe the house we meet in every month. Her description created soft emotions in me, as I could see, feel, hear, touch and taste her senses as we walked in her shoes. A writer who writes with raw passion is wonderful to listen to. 

God brings new people into our life to teach us, to share with us and remind us that time spent doing what He has blessed us with is never time wasted. I might have discovered this a bit late in life but I am so glad I discovered it because life is so dull when you are doing what you thought you should be doing and not what God gifted you with. 

God wants us to love each other by sharing with others. He wants us to be open to knowledge, open to help and open to love and be loved as He sends other people to bless us and do His will. We don't meet people by mistake. We meet people by God's moving hands. And never forget that a blessed encounter is a merciful memory for life. 

I sit with tears gathering in my eyes again as I think of Mrs. Levin. I just want to embrace her with love and hugs and just sit in her presence. Mrs. Levin might not be a “front page” celebrity or a “billboard” beauty but like many of God’s people, she is famous in the background and I am blessed to have met one of His famous, background beauties of our day. 

Joy!

Then I will go to the altar of God,

to God who is my joy and happiness

I will praise you with a harp,

God, my God

Psalm 43:4

Last week, the word "joy" popped up everywhere. On the television, in books and talking people. I'm still out of focus so just sent a "Still not getting the message, Lord" above and went with the flow.

Then, Saturday afternoon arrived and once again, I was asked to share scripture and pray for others in front of others on Sunday. It's amazing how jobs always have aspects about them, you don't like doing. Like most humans, nerves and fear kicked in and different ideas ran through my mixed up mind.

Anyway, so I decided to share "joy"with them, especially since this was my word (apparently!) for the week. I encouraged them to see the joy in all things and aspects of their lives whether it was going good or bad. In my ears, it didn't sound "powerful" but I noticed smiles and heads nodding.

Sunday afternoon came and  I had to say good-bye to family members who have decided to seek adventures, challenges and changes in another land. Yip, you got it! And that's when JOY hit me. I wasn't upset to say good-bye and no tears seemed to fall. I returned home and I pondered and realised what God's message was for me. I also had to see JOY in all areas of my life.

I am so happy for my family because God is guiding them to bigger and greater blessings. Of course, I will miss them but don't we keep telling each other how we want each other to be happy regardless of what it is or where it needs to happen?  God wants to give them blessings that we can't give and I realised that sometimes God makes us suffer to better others and in the long run I have no doubt this change will be a blessing to me too.

JOY is in the tears we cry to say GOOD BYE

JOY is in the smile we share to show we CARE

JOY is in the pain we feel to start to HEAL

JOY is in the way God FORGIVES

JOY is finally all and more that God GIVES

 

So, this week seek JOY in EVERYTHING!

Blank and Silent

My focus has lessened. I sit here typing, trying to think of what to write about this week. The page is as blank as my mind. God is silent while the body seems to be too busy. I can't pray, can't read scripture yet feel the immense pull to love the people around me.



One thought I have been thinking about is butterflies. A specific butterfly. For many days, when I am alone in body and mind, a pale yellow winged butterfly would fly near me. It would flutter a few times nearing me and then fly off, not to be seen again until next time.

 

I have been considering that maybe God is reminding me that even though He is silent, He is always right next to me, working in my life, laying the bricks on my path for His next step for me.

Maybe God is trying to encourage me to be silent. Silent without distractions like the noise of pages being turned trying to find the scripture God wants me to read or trying to find the words to pray properly.

It's interesting how we are so scared of silence. Silence means actually sitting in our own presence with our own thoughts. Why does silence scare us so much? Why does silence make us think that something must be wrong?

Maybe God falls silent so we will fall silent too so He can actually step forward and speak to us, knowing that we have finally allowed ourselves to listen to our own breathing and our own heartbeat.

So, here I sit with a page that started being blank but now with God's grace has been filled. However, I shall try to sit in silence with a closed Bible and quiet mouth, giving God a chance to do what He does best.......Bless me with His blessed whispers.

 

 Even fools seem to be wise if they keep quiet;

if they don't speak, they appear to understand.

Proverbs 17:28

Book Review: A Plain Story by Isaac Petersen

 

This book crossed my path by chance or as I know it by God's hand. My Mother came home and told me there is an article about a book that sounds interesting. Now, my taste and my Mother's tastes in books are very different so I didn't really take too much note but being the good daughter I am (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) I read the article. Little did I know that I would be filled with immense pride about a author I knew nothing about. So, I had to buy this book because it caught my attention and emotion.

A Plain Story is exactly that except it is "perfectly"plain yet powerful. Isaac Petersen tells his life story about growing up in Mitchells Plain, getting involved in a lifestyle different to the one he was raised in and how his life is transformed from bad choices to God's blessings.

He writes well and you can see him in his car, trying to look "gangster"while being thin from his addiction. You can see him in your mind, at the club, showing the ladies his dance moves getting their attention. 

You can relate to his story because his story is your and my story. We grow up thinking our story is like everyone else, plain and ordinary but Isaac shows us that his plain story has meaning and is being shared with others to show us that God works in "plain" settings.

It is refreshing to read about someone local and unknown. It gives it a more "real" feel to it because you know Isaac is writing this because he feels he needs to share it with whoever gives him the chance.

A Plain Story might not be a best seller but it is a story to be shared. If you can, get yourself a copy and you might find yourself among the pages. Just like I did!

Give Isaac the opportunity to share his life with you while getting you to ask the question: Can God save me too?

For information on A Plain Story and Isaac, visit his website:aplainstory.wixsite.com/isaacpetersen
Or Get a copy by e-mailing Isaac direct on: aplainstory@gmail.com

Spiritual Strength

First, a little background to my story. I am currently doing my three months orientation to be a volunteer Chaplain for the Fire Department and believe me when I say this opportunity scares me and God really has taken me out of my comfort zone because I am doing this on my own in a world I don't know.  I don't even know if this is where God wants me to be but I know He will tell me. And now my story.....

This week, I have to prepare some words of encouragement as part of my Chaplaincy orientation for this coming Sunday and I am terrified but I silenced myself  and gave my fear to God. The word "hero" kept filling my mind. And like a good believer, I whipped out my Bible and starting searching and reflecting on what it means to be a hero. I had so many thoughts going on in my mind that I gave myself a headache and left my attempt for another day.  I was mentally tired over this and then last night in an episode of Chicago Fire, a Chaplain mentioned Philipians 4: 13.

Getting the message (especially the scene was a discussion between a Chaplain and a Fire Fighter!) after 8 pm, I jumped up and made to sure to write it down, with my Mother watching me race around the room looking for pen and paper. Yip, I'm that weird!

What I didn't realise was that the message I will be using this Sunday is also a message for me. I need spiritual strength to try to be a Chaplain because the men need me. I can't be their rock if I don't have a rock to support me and I was reminded that God is my rock. He will be standing with me when my hands will be shaking and my voice croaky on Sunday but I know that the men need to hear it. I still don't know exactly what I am going to say. I just pray God gives me the words to share.

We all need spiritual strength because sometimes physical strength is just not enough. Our heart and soul needs support when we find ourselves facing unknown outcomes, fears and even good opportunities. Everything on earth is uncertain and unknown. We can do all things as long as we focus on God because our mistakes can be God's works and our successes can be God's blessings for us. 

We also need to keep up our spiritual strength by praying and reading scripture. By talking to others in our church community. Praising God helps with our spiritual strength too. 

Whether I make a good Chaplain or not and whether they keep me as one, I do know that God is using this chapter in my life for His good and I know in the long run for my good too. A lesson learned, whether a success or a failure, is how we grow in all things and in all things God strengthens us.

God gives us spiritual strength to help us put our own anxieties aside to be able to help others because God knows others need our human strength to share His spiritual strength. We are after all His servants.

I pray that God strengthens you in all things that you are doing and that you never forget to listen to God because He is working in your life to strengthen and prepare you mentally, physically and spiritually for blessings He is and will be bestowing upon you. 

How is God strengthening you in all things? I would love to hear from you.

Winter Blues means Darker Days (Pt. 2)

So, I return to darkness because it feels like home now. The light scares me. I don’t know it anymore. I see its glow beneath the door in front of me. I turn and look at the window, seeing the moon and just enough stars to feel at home. The light from the corner from the golden writing also catches my attention.  I get anxious and my clothes feel like they are choking me.  The light seems to be growing all around me. Where’s the darkness when I need it?

I can’t feel the cold nibbling my feet anymore. It feels like a gentle heat falling on my feet. I try and bring my feet as close to my body as possible. I don’t want to feel it. My tears fall icily down my cheeks as I beg the moon with my silence for the darkening comfort.  

The gold writing seems to grow in light too as I glance over there. Letters shimmer in the moon light, urging me to open it up and read.  What harm could it do to read it.....again? I wonder as the light grows.

It’s the first time, I noticed it, noticed that night actually still turned to day.  The stream shoots through the window.  I jump out of the stream. My moon and stars have disappeared. Where did my darkness go?  I smile as I look at the stream of light. I can still feel the darkness here. I’m not scared but the stream of light creates curiosity. What would happen if it touched me?

Hesitantly, I slowly wiggle my fingers forward until they are wiggling in the stream. It feels like heat was falling on my fingers. The heat feels like a snake sliding up my arm. My skin is tingling under its power. I close my eyes embracing the sun snake as it slithering seems to spread.

Unable to bear its power, I open my eyes, fresh tears falling as I find my whole body basking in the sun. My soul has returned to the light I knew before.  My soul urges me to pick up the shimmering gold writing in the dark corner. Stepping out of the sun again, I visit the darkness as I pick up the book. I rush back into the stream of light. This is where I need to be.

The darkness has disappeared and the cold no longer nibbles. I turn around and listen again. The joy of the outsiders makes me smile. I will venture there soon but not yet.

My soul has returned home. My mind and body is on its way too. 

  

God has freed us from the power of darkness,

And he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

Colossians 1: 13