For the ♥ of trials…

Have you also gone through trials or maybe you are going through a few right now? I have experienced some less-exciting seasons in my life. James 1:2-6 was sent to me in the midst of a trial and to be honest at first it did not quite make sense!

New King James Version: ² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:2-6

Amplified Bible: ² Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. ³ Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. ⁴ But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. ⁵ If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. ⁶ Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.  James 1:2-6

How is it possible to ‘count it all joy’ when I am not feeling very joyful. The Message says it is ‘a sheer gift’ and the Amplified Bible says be ‘wholly joyful’. I was not quite convinced even though the Word of God (=the Truth) was saying be ‘joyful’ load and clear. It was only after I read another passage that it all started making sense. Proverbs 3:5.

It became evident that I, Lize, was trying to reason my way out of my trial. Only after this verse did I spend the time to meditate on the second part of the passage in James. I realised it was a test of my faith and I was being challenged to be a ‘doer of the Word’ (James 1:22 – But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves) and not simply a ‘hearer’. Ultimately the goal of my trial is so that I ‘may be made perfect and complete, lacking nothing’.

This is a lot easier said than done, but God tells us in His Word it is for our own good and we have to believe and not doubt! ‘For he who doubts… Do not be tossed around by life’s difficulties. Focus on what is Constant = Jesus. Heb. 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.  When you face difficult times, know that challenges are not sent to destroy you. They’re sent to promote, increase and strengthen you. 

PS: Read Joyce Meyer’s Battlefield of the mind…win the battle against the enemy that is going on in your mind!

for the ♥ of a positive attitude…

Happiness is contagious! Have you ever been around someone that is just happy, full of life and actually gives you energy?! I certainly hope I am that person rather than the contrary. Just as a positive attitude is contagious, so is a negative attitude. In John 10:10 (NKJV) Jesus says the thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. Do not let the devil fool you by letting him steal, kill and destroy your life. Jesus came so we can have life MORE abundantly – love it! Here are a few synonyms for abundance: bountiful, overflowing, plentiful, exuberant, rich and God wants us to have MORE of this!!!

Be conscious about your own attitude and also who you surround yourself with. We are a little bit like sheep, aren’t we?! Make sure you surround yourself with people that give rather than take from you – your energy, your positivity, your spirit. Spend time with people that build you up and encourage you. Also be that person wherever you are planted on earth.

Words are so powerful! Prov 18:21 – Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Be careful what you speak into other people’s lives and what words you choose. James 3:5 – Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! You have the power to change someone’s life for the good or bad with your mouth! This is both scary and awesome!!!

Jesus said that whatever we ask in His name, He will do (John 14:14). Ask God to help you to be a blessing to others with your words and your attitude and also for the wisdom to choose how you spend your time and who you spend it with.

Remember…we are blessed to be a blessing. ♥

For the ♥ of prayer…

During the week of the 18-24^th of June this year God gave me a verse to meditate on. He spoke to me through Philippians 4:6-7 FOUR times! God obviously wanted to tell me something! This is another one of those beautiful verses in the Bible that gives me great joy and also peace in my heart that I am not doing life on my own! God wants me to give all my worries to Him and not be burdened by them, but rather be content and whole and peaceful.

I like to read different versions of the Bible on the internet (www.biblegateway.com). Sometimes when I hear the same verse in different ways it sinks in and makes more sense.

Philippians 4:6-7 (New King James Version) – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Phil 4: 6-7 (Amplified Bible) – Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Phil 4: 6-7 (The Message) – Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Give all your worries to God – it does not matter how big or how small! God wants to be involved in the detail of your life. Worrying is not from God, it’s from the devil. Be aware of that next time something happens in your life that throws you off your course. Give it to God. Write this verse everywhere! Read it a few times…all the different versions. Believe it!

May this verse bless you in abundance!!!!

for the ♥ of your relationship with God…

Have you also read a Bible verse before and then when you read it again it has a completely ‘new’ meaning?! The first time I came across James 4:8 was in 2008 – the only reason I know this is because I discovered an old notebook with the date. I cannot even remember ever reading this verse!

 The second time round this was my ‘word in season’. I was going to church, but was not spending any other time with God. I was longing for a closer relationship with Him, but was not ‘feeling’ God and this is when I came across James 4:8 again. I determine my level of relationship with God! I have to draw close to God and then He will draw closer to me. My understanding of ‘draw close’ is making time to spend in God’s Word. A quote I love – if you cannot hear God, read God!

Sin is just something that stands between us and our Father and we must understand the devil’s goal is to keep us away from God. 1 Peter 5:8 –  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Devour literally means to eat hungrily or quickly or to consume destructively (thanks Google!).

MORE WORD = LESS SIN

Psalm 119:11 – Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Do not let the enemy distract you from God. He will give you millions of reasons (and distractions) why you do not have time for God.

Your level of relationship with God is your responsibility – Draw close to God!

for the ♥ of your mission…

Did you know that Moses was a murderer (Exodus 2:12)? Well I didn’t until recently! Yes, the Moses that was hidden in a basket in the river Nile, the one that God spoke to through a burning bush and that God chose to lead the Israelites out of oppression. Let me rephrase: God chose a murderer to lead His people out of oppression (Exodus 3). If God had such a huge mission for Moses, who was a murderer and probably never thought that he would be called for such an (in my opinion) important mission, just imagine what He has planned for you!!

I love the part where Moses said to God: “Oh my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant: but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say. (Exodus 4:10-12) – God chose someone who basically couldn’t speak properly to lead a nation! I would probably also be a bit confused if I was Moses, but then God says that He will give Moses the tools.

It made me realise that God will never put something in your heart (a mission) and not provide you with the tools to do it! I am not necessarily talking about leading a nation, if that is your mission that is awesome! Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). What He did in the Bible He CAN DO TODAY!

I hope that you will say YES! to God’s dream for you! He has a massive, brilliant, awesome, amazing plan for you…just BELIEVE what His Word says and remember that your past does not define who you are in God! Kapish?!

for the ♥ of royalty…

I have always had a fascination with crowns. I just love their sense of importance, luxury, bling and stature. One day whilst scrolling on Pinterest I found an awesome quote that would bring a whole new meaning to my love of crowns. It said: Always wear your invisible crown. The penny dropped! Although I cannot walk around with a crown on my head – that would just be a little bit weird…what I could remember to do is always to wear my invisible crown. I believe God is the King of the Universe – He created ALL of it (Gen. 1.1) and I am a child of God (John 1:12 – But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name). I believe in Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, the Son of God, the Messiah. I believe that he is Grace and Truth. I believe He is my Saviour and I LOVE Him! And because of this I am royalty! How awesome is that?! This does not make me better than anyone, but it does give me a sense of responsibility, a responsibility to become like Jesus Christ. Wherever Jesus is not intimately known He cannot be accurately shown – Joyce Meyer. I have to study the Word in order to know him intimately. I am justified, I am a child of the living God not by my own doing, but by God’s grace and by the faith of my Saviour (Gal. 2:20). I am forever grateful to God for the ultimate sacrifice: giving His Son for us and from this day forward I will ALWAYS WEAR MY INVISIBLE CROWN…

 

for the ♥ of new beginnings…

Today I am embarking on a new journey, a new direction, unfamiliar territory. I am pouring my heart and soul into something…my blog! I have dreamt of this, but never did I think it would actually realise. The enemy whispered a lie to me years ago – Lize, you are a Jack of all trades, master of none. For so many years I believed this, made it my own. I thought that I was made for average, ordinary, low-key. I recently realised that fear does not have to be part of my life, does not have to hold me back, does not have to shape my future! Jeremiah 29:11 says: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. This has been my verse since my 21st birthday, but I never grasped the wonder of it, the wonder of God…and that I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13). Now, 7 years later I get it! I realise I am important enough, good enough, loved enough, supported enough to be who I am. The very hairs on my head are all numbered (Luke 12:7) and if our God Almighty cares that much about me and He wants me to have a hope, an expectation, a future then I suppose I am the only one who needs to get in on the act! Being true to yourself means to do, to act and to be in accordance with what you believe. From this day forward I have a new belief of myself and the potential God has put in me. My dream is to inspire, encourage, edify, stretch others and I believe I now have the platform to do so (Thank you, God). So here goes peeps…

PS: I just love this quote – Above all else be true to yourself and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it – Hardy D.