New Reslove

Do not begin the year with the same old habit, dreams and wishes.

I believe the reason we are given News, whether that be weeks, months and years is for us to start over, 

To replace old habits with new ones, 

To improve on past performances, 

To Dare to succeed in new ventures, 

To desire to be better human beings,

To aspire to new heights 

To gain new territories 

To master new skills

And to attempt new feats

To make new friends 

And to rebuild and mend broken relationships worth fixing

To resolve to dream big,

To venture to take risk and to renew your faith where it faltered 

To leap without fear of failing 

To venture knowing that no venture, no gain

To put the past behind and embrace newness with hope

To look behind without regrets and look ahead with boldness of mind

A new year to see yourself achieving and succeeding at becoming all you are born to be, and attaining heights previously dreamt of. 

Let This be the year you dive deeper with God. Commit to reading God's word more than ever before. 

Let Him be your daily guide, your compass for 2016, the instruction manual for each endeavour. 

What's it going to be this year? 

A new you with determination and zeal 

Or same old same old

The choice is yours 

Happy New Year 

A New View

If someone were to ask you what your vision is for 2016, how would you answer?

Have you truly stopped to consider that question? Have you asked yourself lately? While 2016 hasn’t arrived just yet, you certainly plan on being there to experience it. It only makes sense to have a clear vision of how you want that year to unfold.

Evaluating Your Perspective

Start by examining your view of God. Perhaps your perspective has shifted because you’re still fighting the same battles or facing the same old issues. Maybe your situation has even worsened despite your cries for help.

Has the struggle diminished your view of Him? It’s easy to become indifferent or to stop seeing Him as loving and kind when life feels stagnant.

Reframing the Image

Instead, try to hold onto this image of God: a Father who is deeply passionate about you and the specific challenges you face.

As you step into a brand new year, I encourage you to intentionally adjust your lens. Dive into His Word to capture an accurate picture of His character. Remember:

• God Loves unconditionally.

• God Cares deeply.

• God Gives generously.

• God Nourishes, Comforts, and Restores.

A Christmas Promise

A child was born and the world has never been the same. Babies are good news, they bring joy, happiness and hope into the world, babies also unify the family and signify new beginnings.
I have a few friends whose babies are due anytime soon, they are both excited and anxious. This wonderful gift of life brings so much joy. 

So it was on the night that Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph travelled miles, as they did, the anxiety of what was to come increased. Mary was with child, the Holy One, the angel had said. I am sure they were anxious to find out what he looked like.  Being told that there's no room at the inn.... was not what they expected, no room for the son of God? Surely the angel should have gone ahead and warned the inn keeper to expect them, a special child to be born in a stable where the animals lay? Isn’t one’s idea of how the son of God should begin his early days. 

It is somewhat compared to current day's labour ward, where mothers are turned away as a result of overcrowding. The shock, the pain and the confusion can result in unwanted complications, hence the anxiety. 

So being turned away is not good news for any parent to be. 

Mary and Joseph made on time to the stable where the Lord was born. Having welcomed the baby Jesus into the world, they received news that he was wanted dead.... His arrival was a threat to Harold. 

This Baby somehow made it to adulthood without being killed, but only just.
The promise of this baby was not just for him to be born, heal a few and help a few.
His birth was one that changed the course of human race for eternity and is
still changing lives.

Today, thousands of years after his birth, death and resurrection, he still brings hope, peace, love and freedom to all who welcome him into their lives.
Though He was eventually killed, years after the threat hung over his head, the grave could not hold him.

Even so, today his promise will be fulfilled in your life... Nothing can stop his promise of peace and freedom in your life.

You may be going through a tough time right now, wondering if that dream was really of God, you may even have had a supernatural visitation from God, regarding his promise to you, but now you are left perplexed as every inn seems full and favour seems to have frizzle out. You wonder, if this dream is of God, surely he should have made the way straight and smooth.

There was no space in the inn for the birth of The Holy One, yet that did not stop him from fulfilling God’s desires. God will fulfil his promises regardless of any set back. His promise doesn’t come wrapped in fine gift papers and sparkling silver roses, but they are sure. 

So do not look on the temporal situation, hang your hopes on the unfailing word of the master. He goes before us and makes our way prosper.

A baby brought hope and joy to the world, that baby is Jesus, no longer a baby but the King of kings and Lord of lords, the ruler of the ends of the earth, the ancient of days, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the one who turns water to wine and rolls away the stone from Lazarus’s grave. Christmas time reminds us of God who came in human flesh to personally bring us back to Himself… do not let your circumstances fill you with dread, rather let the peace of Christ’s birth fill you with hope, faith and Peace because he truly brings Joy to the world. 

Merry Christmas.

Light and darkness

 

My kids will do anything to avoid going down for the night. 

Often, after our nightly routine of reading, praying, singing, good nights and hugs, comes; Mummy I need to wee, mummy 

One more cuddle,

"Mummy, you did not give us water", 

"Mummy, you did not pray". 

I usually go back and to get them to sleep, do whatever it is they want, letting them know this is the last request I will honor.

So yesterday's line was. 

"I am scared" mummy, began my little girl. "Scared of what I asked?"

Ignoring my question, she carried on, it's too dark. 

"Are you scared of the dark"? 

"Yes" came the answer.

This is a room with a little light glowing in the  corner, so it isn't completely dark. This light comes on every night and stays on till the morning lights appear. Yet another stunt to avoid going down for the night. 

What should we do about the dark I asked, 

Put the light on, which light? I asked, the light is already on, I continued. 

"I want the big light" no darling, it's time to sleep... 

There's something about light that gives reassurance when it's dark, 

Light encourages happiness, hence summer months are filled with gaiety and smiles.

We avoid going through a dark alley, because we don't know what lurks in the dark. 

I don't like leaving my kids in the dark and also do not like the idea of sleeping in the dark. Whenever I am in an unfamiliar environment like hotel rooms, there has to be some form of light before I can fall asleep.

So you will understand when I say, I love the Christmas season because of the different array of lights in every major,  or minor street corner. Blue, red, yellow, green and lights of every colour adore our homes. 

Street lights are put up with so much celebration, some shopping malls go to great lengths to pay for celebrities to turn on the light. 

Halls are dressed for the occasion, with

Front pouch is singled out for out door display of sleigh, rains deer and more lights.

Light is beautiful. 

It cannot be hidden. Wherever there is light it glows, it does not matter how small the light, it always displaces darkness.

I do not know the origin of the Christmas display of lights. But I do know one who is the light of the
world. His light is not seasonal, but all year round. He takes the gloom and fills each heart with joy and glory. The stars celebrated his birth, his light drew kings to his presence. 

The heart of men was enlightened by his coming, peace was restored to a broken world. 

The best thing of all is that he lives in those who acknowledged him as Lord and saviour. And will be a light to them. He declared, ' I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12

So if we are light, as stated in Matthew 5:14, lets beam out for all to see. There is so much gloom and doom in our world today, man's hatred for each other depicted in grime acts of violence and terror
Causes People to run scared. 

As light, let's be the reassurance, the hope and comfort people seek,  let's shine bright for all to see, so that many will be drawn to His light. 

Jesus came to turn our darkness to light, our despair into hope. We are carriers of hope, so let's portray the light within us, let us live as people of light, igniting hope, purity and truth.

Throughout this season and always.