More new years muffins!

Just a different angle to those lovely treats.

New years muffins

Feast your eyes on the treats! This was a small project between my wife and I to spice up our New Year. Needless to say they came out phenomenally (what were you expecting??).

PS: They taste as good as they look :-D

A Tribute to my Wife

A tribure i wrote to my wife for our anniversary on the 12th Dec. I love you baby:

I cant believe


I cant believe its been one year with you
Its amazing what God has brought us through
You are as beautiful as the day i said i do
Loving, witty, kind and caring too

I cant believe how fast time flies
So fast, and yet with you it was just a blink of the eyes
Every day with you a surprise
As new as the morning, fresh as the clear blue skies

I cant believe how far we have come
How much we've been, how much we've done
Three children, a new car, house, and then some
Loved by the Father, united by the Son

I cant believe the love we share
Its not what we do its who we are
Our hearts and minds we bare
To each other, a Godly love with no compare

My Prayer

If I can throw a single ray of light across the darkened pathway of another;
if i can aid some soul to clearer sight of life and duty, and thus bless my brother;
if I can wipe from any human cheek a tear, I shall not have lived my life in vain while here.

If I can guide some erring one to truth, inspire within his heart a sense of duty;
if I can plant within my soul of rosy youth a sense of right, a love of truth and beauty;
if I can teach one man that God and heaven are near, I shall not then have lived in vain while here.

If from my mind I banish doubt and fear and keep my life attuned to love and kindness;
if I can scatter light and hope; if I can cheer and help remove the curse of mental blindness;
if I can make more joy, more hope, less pain, I shall not have lived and loved in vain.

If by life’s roadside I can plant a tree, beneath whose shade some wearied head may rest,
though I may never share its beauty, I shall yet be truly blessed.
And though if in the end, no one knows my name, nor drops a flower upon my grave, I shall not have lived in vain while here.

– by Anonymous

Lazy Boy

God has been gently turning my head so that I can view my own weaknesses and see areas that I am unable, but mostly unwilling, to see. Chief of these is laziness. I have really fought hard with this one: justifying myself left, right and center. I never wake up when the alarm rings. Im always late for devotion. Sure, I say, but I will still do the mandatory one hour right? Thus im never early or even on time for work, my projects finish on time yes but thats more Gods grace then anything to do with me.

God help me.

'Tis the voice of a sluggard; I heard him complain
You have waked me too soon; I must slumber again;
As the door on its hinges, so he on his bed,
Turns his sides, and his shoulders, and his heavy head.

A little more sleep, and a little more slumber
Thus he wastes half his days, and his hours without number;
And when he gets up, he sits folding his hands,
Or walks about saunt'ring, or trifling he stands.

I passed by his garden, and saw the wild brier,
The thorn and the thistle grow broader and higher;
the clothes that hang on him are turning to rags;
And his money still wastes till he starves or he begs.

I made him a visit, still hoping to find
That he took better care for improving his mind:
He told me his dreams, talked of eating and drinking,
But scarce reads his Bible, and never loves thinking.

Said I then to my heart: Hear's a lesson for me;
That man's but a picture of what I might be;
But thanks to my friends for their care in my breeding,
Who taught me betimes to love working and reading.”

Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748)

A Stitch in Time

My wife suddenly begun having contractions on Sunday (4th Oct) and I had to rush her to hospital. I was initially very apprehensive: I had spent all my money on the hormone supplements required by her doc and was unsure how I was going to afford the treatment and medication. I even had to borrow cash from my dad just to get her to the hospital...

Have you noticed that? I, Me...me me me everywhere forgetting that under the Fathers care the righteous never go hungry nor their seed beg bread. The miracles begun right from the accounts desk, and snowballed all the way after that. The hospital agreed to see her eventhough my card does not inlude maternity cases. After that they admitted her, got her a bed and all in record time. Then our HR broadcast to my superiors in London that i wouldnt be in and took it upon herself to get the company to pay the bill. All the while I stood in awe at Gods works.

Yesterday she went in for the MacDonald stitch and all is well. Doc wants her to stay put for another day or two but besides that he is pleased with her progress.

What now is left for me to say? Eventhough I knew that

You alone are the LORD;
You have made heaven,
The heaven of heavens, with all their host,
The earth and everything on it,
The seas and all that is in them,
And You preserve them all.
The host of heaven worships You.(Nehemiah 9:6)

He still went ahead to show His glory. And even when I, like the Israelites,

refused to obey,
And they were not mindful of Your wonders
That You did among them.
But they hardened their necks,
And in their rebellion
They appointed a leader
To return to their bondage.
But You are God,
Ready to pardon,
Gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger,
Abundant in kindness,
And did not forsake them. (Nehemiah 9:16)

A New Hope

I cant thank God enough. We are now 9 weeks pregnant and now have renewed hope that we shall finally carry this baby to term. It has been a difficult journey: and i must confess i begun to lose hope and to dispair, and like so many others, resign myself to my fate, whatever it may be.

But God broke through, and I cant stop singing his praise.

Psalm 112
7 (Surely the righteous)will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is established;
He will not be afraid

For the spurgeon study of the above verse please go here

Week 8 Day 1 - 3: Conforming to Him...

Ok this week is all about spiritual gifts, and how you can identify them, zero in on them, and then bless the body of Christ with your service through them.

Ok here are the SHAPE points as presented in the book. I am hoping and praying I can find something in there that I can use to do Gods work:

Sprititual Gifts:
1) Creativity
2) Knowledge
3) Mentoring (I think)
4) Teaching (I think)

Heart: ie my passions
1) Music
2) Computers
3) Movies

Abilities: what are you good at?
1) Singing, music
2) Coding
3) Organizing

Personality:
1) Mild extrovert
2) Sanguine (?)
3) Love the limelight
4) Witty
5) Flippant

Experiences that Have shaped you
1) SInging with proffessional musicians
2) Working with street kids
3) Parents separation
4) Passing away of loved ones

Now to make sense of all this...

Week 8 Day 4 - 5: He who the Son sets free...

Debt is really, REALLY enslaving. Ask me about it. I have struggled with a certain debt for 2+ years now...and it seems very very hard to get out of it. Now i should have known better and NOT gotten into it in the first place. But further to that, i should have used the sale of a certain asset in my possession at the time to significantly reduce the debt. But I was foolish, something I am paying for now (literally).

The only way that I think I can do it now is to sell off my car, a most uncomfortable prospect seeing as it has now become an asset to my wife's business. And then there is the issue of when we get pregnant...

If there was ever a time I needed Gods wisdom, it is now. I have prayed alot on this issue due to the effects debt has on your spiritual walk. I have been unable to tithe completely so far, and thus feel denied of huge spiritual gifts. True I shifted the debt to a lower paying loan instrument, but it remains an eye-sore on the monthly budget, straining every other item in its wake.

Now I feel God telling me to rest in His peace, and that it will all work out, and that I do not have to run to and fro, and fret and worry, that it is all taken care of.

Week 8 Day 1 - 3: The Giver and the Gift

11 “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, 12 lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;17 then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’
18 “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth" Deuteronomy 18: 11 - 17, 18

I do thank God that He has been working on the area of giving for quiet some time now..and more than that, He has demonstrated His supernatural gift of provision time and time again (ask me about my wedding some day..quite a few miracles there!)

I have however been struggling with the net vs gross issue, partly because of the forced saving rule in the company I work with. Not that I am unthankful, goodness no. I just need to take the extra step of faith in giving ALL my tithe into the storehouse of God, as said in Malachi.

I also struggle with a single major debt that has crippled my ability to give all. I am trusting God that in this particular week I will be able to learn how to shake off those shackles and walk free.

Week 7 Day 4 - 5: The Whole Earth, and All That Are In It

It is encouraging to read the stories of Ecclesias taking up the mantle and addressing environmental problems. God really is the God of the whole earth. It therefore follows that we should be good stewards of the same.

But in the same vein, He wants us to go forth and evangelise ALL nations. This concept was very foreign to me, after all, only "great men of God" travelled country to country preaching the Gospel. But here again surfaces my prior misconceptions about the great commission. The commission was for US ALL to go out to all the world. Adopting a country is a very good idea in my opinion. It crystallizes something that has been made extremely abstract. It brings that country, and the people therein to our living room, so to speak, and allows us to bring them to God in prayer effectively.

I believe the Wife and I should pick a country (she has a passion for Africa so chances are that's where we will get one) and adopt it, and pray for it, and trust God for miracles in it. This goes way beyond just praying for our families and our friends...

Week 7 Day 1 - 3: Transformation Crusade

I am glad to be a part of such a progressive Church. So few "get" Gods agenda on a total transformation of the society, and limit his working to only an individuals life and family (thereby inadvertently making the society even more individualistic).

I always thought that the CHristian responsibility extended beyond just our locale, but now I can see clearly what God had always intended for us to be. Evangelism and social relief are not the grand finale of His plan for salvation. There remains community development, social transformation, reconciliation and environmental concerns on top of that.

I cant wait to plug into a ministry where I can give of the gifts and talents that i possess. I am especially interested in helping someone one move from dependancy to self provision (but then again, my wifes business may just be the place im called, in which case im involved already!!).

God bless.

Week 6 Day 3 - 5: Go and Tell Somebody!

A very sobering three chapters. The call to evangelise is for ALL Christians, regardless of their giftings. I have been completely lax and complacent in this area. Of no heavenly use whatsoever. Even blogging about it has been hard. And this is in spite of the fact that my gift lies smwhere in music (still trying to find out where).

The short survey at the back of the book has revealed that my personal strenghts are strongly intellectual, with confrontation and testimony coming as weak seconds, my interpersonal and serving aptitudes are apalling, and invitational virtually non-existent. So call me complicated :-D

I just done believe the story of my conversion is that "compelling". To me, its the same old, same old. But there is someone out there who needs to believe God can save someone like him, and he happens to relate with my story, so Lord, help me tell it.

Lord help me be able to reach out.

My impact list is as follows:

1) Dad
2) Nitu and Pree
3) Dunkie

Week 6 Day 1 - 2: He came to save the Lost

It is wondrous that such an all-knowing, all-powerful God sought me out when I was lost in my sins. The experience is mind-boggling, and extremely humbling all at the same time. If He did that for me, and used someone to share the Good News with me, then I should reach out for someone else who is lost as well, and show them the goodness of this God who is concerned with sinners.

Father help me reach out to others, just as you reached out to me, and that, through me, many will come to know you. Help me go and tell somebody.

Week 5 Day 5: Each One Reach One

Interestingly, the catch-phrase title was Chapels motto on one particular outreach month a long time ago. It been very long since i witnessed to anyone about my faith in Christ, half the time feeling too guilty about the state of my life, and the other half too afraid of being rejected.

I kept thinking that the setting was all wrong, wondering if my testimony would ruin the friendship, or whether I even had anything of importance to tell anyone. I guess I used to overthink it, and consequently never do anything about it. And not reaching out for souls does have its consequences; my passion for lost souls diminished, and my christian walk became complacent.

I trust God to give me the courage and take away the fear of witnessing. After all, if I deny Him before men, He will deny me before the Father.

Week 5: Day 2 - 4: In Communion

The importances of joining a ministry, or Ecclesia for that matter are myriad. Despite our third world setting, our society is getting more and more disjointed. The feeling of being alone in a crowd is getting more and more prevalent. The temptation to conform in order to be accepted, harder to resist. The need to feel part of something, ANYTHING, overwhelming.

The small church group setting has never really worked for me though. This has largely been due to my past. The "small" group was not small at all, there was no fellowship or "bonding", more like cliques, and even within those it was a constant battle to be seen, heard, recognised, regarded and, ultimately, rewarded.

This one is different though. I do pray it works out...

Week 5 Day 1: A Part of the Anatomy

Ok the slow pace of the Internet is REALLY getting to me...and my provider tells me there will be no changes until the fibre lands...which will take about 3 more months!!!

I cant live like this!!!!!

Ok on with the series:

This week has been all about body parts and functions, in the body of Christ that is. Interestingly, I had never thought of it in that way. Sure I had always known that I am a member of the body of Christ, but the logical conclusion (I therefore should be doing something in the Church) had never actually hit me. True I have always loved serving in the Church, but to realise that it is a REQUIREMENT not a hobby or pastime is an eye opener. At least for me. It is important to get plugged in.

And therein lies the conundrum: I am hesitant to begin serving because family plans will eventually make me scarce as far as meetings go due to time constraints. Does this show a lack of faith? Should I just go ahead and plug into the ministry I would like to be involved in and trust God to do the rest? Questions...questions...

My Summary on Prayer

This is a small insight I had while studying the previous lessons on the Mizizi course. Ok not quite an insight but more a guideline for extended prayer. The 15min prayer sessions I have are OK now but wont do much longer: I need something that will guide me to deeper communion with God. Most of the points are self explanatory but I will list a few pointers for those that are not:

The daily quiet time should include the following:

Worship:
Begin your time by focussing on who God is and appreciating Him. Sing aloud a worship song or read a psalm of praise.

Read:
Read the Bible: read the message through to understand the big picture, then again to understand how it applies to you.

Apply:
Now take time to apply what you read in your life. Based on the passage:
1) Is there a Sin to confess?
2) Are there Promises to claim?
3) Are there Examples to follow?
4) Is there a Command to obey?
5) Is there a Truth about God to believe?

Pray:
Most important of all, pray regularly, pray privately and finally (and perhaps most importantly) pray genuinely.

Now on to the model of prayer:

1)Adoration: Reflect back to God on who He is. We speak of His greatness and ability, and how much we love Him.
2) Confession: We acknowledge our sins and apologise for them with a view to turning away.
3) Thanksgiving: Thank God always, in good times and in difficult times.
4) Supplication: Bring before God not only YOUR requests, but also the requests of others. Remember God is greater than our requests, and more powerful than any problem we will ever face.

Journelling
Journelling is a great way to keep track of the prayers that God has answered. It is also encouraging during trying times because we have a record of Gods consistent goodness throughout our Christian lives.

Week 4 Day 5: If you are willing and obedient..

There are no unconditional promises in Gods word. The entire plan of the ages rests in His hands, but He requires our participation as well. Isaiah 1:19 "IF you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land".

Willingness and obedience are character traits, and therefore God focuses on our character intensely. "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks". "Guard your heart with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life". Who I am inside is much more important than what I have outside.

I am the clay and He the potter. I must give Him the authority to mould me as His will. After all, His plans are to give me a future and a hope.

Week 4 Day 3 - 4: God is Willing and Able

It has been a slow and painful journey to get to the point where I believe God is able, and willing to be involved in my life. For so long I thought my life was a constant stream of trivialities, not befitting audience with the King of Glory. I imagined Him quickly taking a passing glance at my life and moving on to more important things.

All this changed when my wife and I suffered a huge and terrible loss. A very present help in the time of trouble is what He became to us. Like the beggar on the street we cried out "If you are willing, you can make me whole". To which Jesus responded without hesitation "I AM willing...". We are not out of the woods yet, but we have no doubt that He is willing, over and above being able. Despite the tragedy, I am grateful He gave us the chance to trust in Him, and, despite the fact that things didn't work out as we would have liked, He remained there for us.

Week 4 Day 2: Whatever the Cost

Luke 14:28 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it--"

I have no illusions. This journey will cost me EVERYTHING. But then again, what do I have that He did not give me in the first place. What does it profit for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose his soul? (My favourite part) Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul??

As I surrender my will in exchange for His, then what I have to gain will fade away...and I will finally be able to rejoice in seeing His will accomplished. It stands to reason that at this point in time my own issues will be insignificant in comparison to His surpassing glory. I have no excuse. For so long I have been held by by what I thought I could not do without but no more:I want to love, and I want to server, from a clean heart and pure conscience. No holds barred. Nothing held back. Nothing to lose because I have everything to gain from following His will.

Week 4 Day 1: No longer I

Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me"

Despite the ups and downs of the past week, it is a joy just to consider how much I'm learning about God. Its totally different from the past. A hunger seems to have been awoken deep within me, and I cannot seem to get enough. I seem to be falling more and more in love with Jesus. I couldn't stop myself even if i wanted to! It feels sooo GOOOD!!

Where is this leading, I wonder...where am I going...I am tempted to panic, and turn back or withdraw but no. This has been a long time coming. I have wanted this for so long. I will press on, knowing that He has my best interests at heart.

I am finally on my way...

Week 3 Day 4 -5: By Prayer with Supplication and Thanksgiving...

Prayer is conscious and deliberate..the forces that be will not permit otherwise. I am working on making my prayer life consistent and private: I seem to have too much to do ALL the time, a situation that I do not believe is accidental. The enemy must keep one away from Gods throne room: it is the only place he has no power over the proceedings, and therefore whose outcome he cannot control.

I have never had a problem with praying genuinely. After years of watching 'performance prayers' both on and off the pulpit, I am painfully aware of my inadequacy before God, and my complete ineffectiveness if i try to impress Him. Why should I try to be like someone else?? They are already taken!!!

Besides I find it much more fun to be myself with God. I really have nothing to hide before Him; there is nothing I CAN hide from His all seeing glare. When I come to Him just as I am, I believe I can clearly see Him just as He is.

I will appropriate the ACTS system of prayer (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication). I will also blog my prayers as well so as to remind myself of all that God has done.

Week 3 Day 3: Gods Word, a Treasure

It is only recently that I have begun to read the Bible for transformation, as opposed to information. I must confess that for a long time, I was caught in the 'endless disputes' section of Christians as described by Paul, something that can severely stunt spiritual growth.

I am glad to be out of that one. My personality does tend towards knowledge for its own sake, but I am glad to have the added advantage of now being able to credit specific behavioural, intellectual, and verbal transformations to Gods word, for His sake and to His glory, not mine.

I guess this means that I am already on my way to the spiritual 'prosperity and success' that Joshua was assured of IF he meditated on Gods word, day and night. Off course the benefits transcend spiritual, but then again, His will is done on earth, just as it ALREADY IS in Heaven.

Week 3 Day 1 -2: Jehovah Speaks, Jehovah Hears, Jehovah sees, Jehovah Knows

By far the most important topic in the series so far, at least for me. Its hard to put a finger on it...in a nutshell, I feel I really needed to hear this, to know it.

The fact that God speaks is treated so casually in the Bible...as if I was somehow meant to know that He does!!! Repeatedly! Incessantly even!! Its as natural as He is. He is, therefore He speaks. And in every single way possible. From the thunder and lightening and earthquakes of Sinai, to Elijah's still small voice, from the plagues of Egypt, to a lunch dinner with Abraham. God speaks. All the time. If the heavens, even the highest heavens declare His goodness, and the raging oceans his glory, if the stars shout his praises, then Gods actions are so loud its a wonder we can hear the voices of doubt and fear and disbelief.

Jehovah speaks, Jehovah hears...

The WRAPS quiet time is very encouraging. I must confess mine is not even nearly alike, but perhaps that is something I will listen out for in the next class; the others may have interesting ways of having a high-impact quiet time. I read the Bible chapter that accompanies Spurgeon's devotions every morning (OK most mornings:-)) and I'm currently fighting to have a 15min prayer time every evening. When it works, it works perfectly. When it doesn't, it all falls apart, particularly when I am having a major issue at work.

But since the essence of a quiet time is intimacy with God, them I'm sure He will help. After all,

Jehovah sees, Jehovah knows

Day 4 - 5: The Solution, and its Logical Consequence

Not feeling well today. Have had a nasty flu and just coming out of it. So this wont be as flowery as my normal posts..

So the solution to man's problem was for God to step in. Trust us to put our foot into something we couldnt get out of. Again and again, God reaching out to His creation to help them out of their own messes. Grace never-ending. Eternal. Consistent and focussed. And therefore, able to seek and to save, and sustain, eternally.

I therefore have nothing to fear, no reason to doubt, nothing more to add, and nothing that can be subtracted.

Day 2 - 3: Who God is, and What I am Not

I have combined the two lessons coz of...err..illumination issues (read power cuts at home).

So here goes. Ps this is strictly my view of how things went down...

GOD...in the dateless past created the Heavens and the Earth..perfect!!! (no...we have not gotten to the formless and void part yet) Job actually states that the stars sung for joy when He unveiled our planet to the Hosts of the heavens, and indication it was not quite the hunk of rock it is now.

Fitting with its radiant beauty, he assigned Lucifer as head of the planet. Lucifer, called the son of the Morning, second only in beauty and glory to the Bright Morning Star. What more could a man (or angel for that matter) want!!!!

But then something went horribly wrong. Details are scanty, but what we do know is that Lucifer decided he could be equal to God, that he too could make his throne room in the Heavens.

Now, if God did create us to do good works, and prepared the same for us in advance, from the foundation of the world..then can you not see it?!?!?! Suddenly Lucifer is meant to subject himself to some lowly terrestrial, biological being!! And not only has God planned to create this "thing", He planned to create it IN HIS IMAGE!!! ON LUCIFERS PLANET!!! Something had gone horribly wrong with the Godhead, Lucifer thought. This is NOT the way you run a universe. Why if I was in charge, reasoned Lucifer, no such thing would be permitted! The bottom would fall out of the space-time continuum if we let such things slide. If I was in charge.....

And that is where all Hell broke loose (literally).

Fast forward a bit: fight with Lucifer, ensuing destruction of the earth (insert "and the earth became formless and void" here), recreation, welcome Homo Superious!!! (Sapiens is a poor reflection of Superious). And what do we do?!?! Make like Lucifer and try to be like God!! Its ironic the Devil used the exact same temptation he fell for to get us...he most likely didn't have too many ideas. I mean, what's the worst you could do if you were a bunch of fallen angels floating thru the universe?!?

So the point: God had me in mind all along!! I was ALWAYS part of the plan!! I wasn't a date night accident, He had seen me from beyond, when there was nothing to see!!! I was always meant to be, and therefore always had a part to play. And no, not even my rebellion from God could stop Him from wanting me. So He sent His only Son so that I could see this, and turn back to Him, and be everything I was meant to be, and do all that I was given power to do.

Thank you Jesus.

Oh and the awesome picture is Chaos Theory by Hameed (http://hameed.deviantart.com/art/Chaos-Theory-639032)

Day 1: Who God is Not

So we have joined Mizizi course...I remember thinking during the class that finally I could have a way of drawing closer to God.."to be where He was at" as it were.

Simplistic I know...but if God decided to hide Himself from man then we would be truly lost..for no man would or could find Him. So the prayer from my child's-heart is that I may find Him, and be found in Him, "not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith".

Ok first topic: Who God is not

My perception has varied widely through the years. I vaguely remember trusting him simply, completely, a long time ago...but then came the need to define Him, and that's where it all came unglued. From the harsh taskmaster to the indifferent parent to the uncool big brother...all some variation of a victim mentality, of subjection to Him who I had to contend with, and perhaps felt that i was failing in every aspect.

A certain helplessness at not being able to match up to the standards proposed (read yelled) by the preacher at the pulpit, anger and frustration at not understanding why I just couldn't get it down, as if it was an musical instrument, or particularly difficult piece of code. Didn't help at all that everyone in church seemed to be breezing right through it, saints all ready for heaven.

The need for mentors readily comes to mind. How much more easier would it have been if only I had known that it was a JOURNEY...not a destination!! That it was the smallest mustard seed that grew into the biggest bush!

In many ways the ups and downs of my relationship with my earthly dad directly affected my perception of my heavenly father. The maturing of the same has led me to realise that they were always meant to be similar in many ways, and you know what...that has made all the difference.