Eucharisteo

“The Eucharest: Receiving the holy grail of peace, grace and joy with thanksgiving.”

It was on Holy Thursday that Jesus broke bread with his disciples. Before the Passover Lamb could be sacrificed for good, he wanted to have one last meal with his friends & followers.

Dr. Luke in the gospel account records the words of Jesus thus, “and he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them…” (Luke 22:19).

In the original language, ‘he gave thanks’ reads – ‘eucharisteo.’ The root word of eucharisteo is ‘charis’ which means ‘grace.’ Jesus took bread, saw it as grace and gave thanks.

So ‘eucharisteo,’ thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace, ‘charis.’ And the Greek word for grace, charis forms the very heart of the word, eucharisteo.

Because it was soon to be the grace of God found in the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb which would form the very heart of the table of the eucharisteo – the table of thanksgiving.

And this brings us to the deeper meaning of the Greek word – charis. For it is derived from the Greek word, ‘chara’ meaning ‘joy.’

Because deep chara joy is found only at the table of the eucharisteo – the table of thanksgiving, where the grace of God that brings with it the promise of wholeness and shalom is enfleshed for us in the Person of Jesus – the Living Bread that was broken to give us new life.

Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving. Charis. Grace. Chara. Joy.

The days after The Lord’s Supper were days that were going to see the deepest kind of wounding inflicted on him, followed by a day of gloom and despair, before he would finally be raised back to life again.

And the days that we are now walking into this Holy week commemorate & celebrate the same reality – if we suffer with him, we will also be raised up in glory with him (2 Timothy 2:12).

A Friday that saw Jesus suffer as the Lamb of God, a Saturday that marked a bridge between his suffering and his glory, and a Sunday that saw the resurrection power of God triumph over hell and death for all time to come are not only a testament of great hope to us, but also serve to take us on a brief journey that we will from time-to-time embark upon this side of heaven.

Take my hand, friend and let me lead you through it.

Good Friday:

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
(Hebrews 4:15-16)

The above passage of Scripture reveals that though Jesus was sinless, he was not pain-free. He was in fact, ‘tempted in every way, just as we are.’ He too was familiar with the pain of abuse, persecution, insults, ridicule, rejection and betrayal; so much so that he eventually surrendered even to a most terrifying death on the cross!

This tells me that as we walk through the pain and trauma of this fractured world, we can trust that even when no one else understands what we are going through, Jesus perfectly does.

And he doesn’t tell us to deny it, bury it or numb it.

Much the opposite really.

He encourages us to bring our wounding to him, because by his stripes, we are healed. The day we reckon as, ‘Good Friday’ is proof of that.

For the crown of thorns on his head to be bartered for the wreath of peace we now wear, this was a day when the righteous died for the unrighteous, the godly for the ungodly, the sinless for the sinner.

It wasn’t fair, but it was necessary.

Likewise, your suffering and mine has purpose too. There is nothing glamorous about it, but it is glorious.

How, you ask…

Our pain, whatever it may be, when brought to the foot of the Cross, enables a divine exchange –

Brokenness for wholeness.

Human suffering now embraced by his glory becomes not only shared and dignified, but immensely transformative.

Eugene Peterson puts it like this,

“…people do not suffer less when they are committed to following God. But when these people go through suffering, their lives are often transformed, deepened, marked with beauty and holiness, in remarkable ways that could never have been anticipated before the suffering.”

Our pain produces purpose when it is embraced by the beauty and power of who God is. For this is the truth of the cruciform life –

The Lord walked through unjust suffering, we will too. There is nothing right about it, but I’m reminded that love is the logic of heaven.

So if our Savior hung on a tree that we may have hope in the midst of our pain and suffering, then let this somber yet sacred day called, ‘Good Friday’ serve as a reminder to us that our brokenness on this side of eternity does not disqualify us from the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus. In fact, it is through our brokenness that God works all things together to qualify us and to script songs of glory for all generations to echo.

So, as we have opportunity, let us approach the throne of grace – the table of the eucharisteo – to find the help we need in our time of need, but to do so with hope and joy, praise and expectation …

.. and a ton of thanks.

Silent Saturday:

“Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.”
(Psalm 27:14)

Sandwiched between Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection was a day where darkness seemed to have prevailed and all hope felt lost in Jerusalem. Grief and despair hung in the air as the disciples huddled together, without any comprehension of what was next. God had orchestrated this pregnant pause of sorts, but the atmosphere was thick with sorrow and suspense.

Friend, in our walk of faith, we too will have moments when we feel hopeless and discouraged. But when we do, we can always find comfort and camaraderie with the disciples. We can know that just like this wasn’t the end of their story, what we are walking through isn’t ours either.

‘Silent Saturday’ – a day riddled with fear and doubt – was in fact, a necessary bridge between the disciples’ history and their destiny. It was a purposed cross over between what was and what was yet to be – the Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection, which meant but one thing:

Life would never be the same again. But on a despondent Saturday wedged between a catastrophic Friday and a monumental Sunday, this secret was hidden from them.

And somewhere I suspect the same holds true for us too.

We may not be able to fully understand or comprehend the ‘why’ behind our perceived delays, but one thing we can be certain of –

God is in it with us, and he is not busy preparing the blessing for us, but rather he is engaged in preparing us for the blessing he has already prepared for us.

In other words, our waiting is not the end of us, but rather the ‘becoming’ of us. He is the Alpha, he is the omega; but the journey?

That’s where we’ll find him.

Resurrection Sunday:

“It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.”
(1 Peter 3:21-22)

I took a walk with the Lord the other day – a phenomenon I love calling, ‘walking with the Lord in the cool of the day.’

And as I walked on, I found myself toying with the two keys I currently possess. One is the key to the main entrance of my home, while the other unlocks my personal almirah. Wrapping each key ring around my right and left thumb respectively, I smiled.

Peering into the face of Jesus, I suddenly realised that what I really had in possession was not just the two keys that opened up portals in the natural realm, but rather keys that had authority in the spiritual. As this epiphany came through, it brought me right back to the message of Easter:

“Because on the third day, he rose again, I now have the keys to hell and death, in Jesus’ Name.”

He is Risen!

I am Risen!

Hallelujah!

So this is the Good News we celebrate on Passover.

Death has been swallowed up in victory, and darkness has been eternally vanquished!

Therefore, we can never be deadlocked in any situation because the Lamb of God has overcome. As prized children of the most high God, we can rest in the assurance that what seems to be the end is now only a new beginning in his hands – which makes our lives a saga of unending hope, brave adventure and ceaseless glory.

The Bible states that we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). So as we lift up the cup of the new covenant this Passover, let us look at our challenges square in the eye, pick up the sword of the Spirit, and decree what he has decreed over our lives, thereby enforcing the triumph of the Cross and establishing God’s kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.

One of the Lord’s last directives to his disciples was to take the bread, the wine, and to remember. Do this in rememberance of me. Remember, and give thanks.

For the truth is that after what the Lord has done for us, we can never repay him. But we can remember him.

And as we remember him, it is we who will be reminded of who we are and whose we are. The Psalmist puts it like this,

“So now, what can I ever give back to God to repay him for the blessings he’s poured out on me? I will lift up his cup of salvation and praise him extravagantly for all that he’s done for me.”

(Psalm 116:12-13, TPT)

So friend, as we approach the Holy Week, let us lay hold of the life that is truly life, let us celebrate the Lord’s grace with peace, joy and thanksgiving.

Let us take the bread, take the wine and take communion.

Let us remember..

…and let us give thanks.

Eucharisteo.

Kabod through Covid

Strap yourself in. I’m taking you for a ride.

Not to the next beautiful destination, friend. But to the beauty of what has been thus far in 2022.

And trust me. Though it wasn’t perfect, there sure were some incredibly beautiful spots along the way.

So let’s hone in for a bit.

Shall we?

“The best is yet to come.”

The anthem of hope firmly fastened to my heart was how I entered into this new year.

God had been speaking to me throughout the previous season, and I knew my expectations from life moving forward were good & glorious.

Looking back to reflect & learn all that 2021 had packed within itself, and reaching forward to lay a hold of what 2022 promised was the delicate beam I found myself balancing on as I made my way into Jan ’22.

Ok.

Now brace for impact.

A day into the new year and I was tested positive with Covid.

Really now?

Friends, over the course of 2021, the Lord had taught me not only the power of his Word, but also the power of standing on his Word. Once he speaks, it is finished. The matter is settled.

So though I had begun this year with an unexpected diagnosis, I knew what the Lord had promised. I knew he would see me through yet another valley and that I would come out not only unscathed and unharmed, but seven times stronger than I was going in.

Because that’s how the Lord works. The restoration he brings about is always to a place better than before. As it is says in the Passion Translation,

“And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever. Yes, he will set you firmly in place and build you up. And he has all the power needed to do this—forever! Amen.”
(1 Peter 5:10)

Friends, the Hebrew word for glory is – kabod. Experience with the Lord has taught me that whatever the enemy means for evil will not only be overturned by the hand of the Living God, but also used by him to bring about the manifestation of something good that releases his kabod, his glory into my life.

Please, Lord. Show me how.

God uses All Things

So though I got down with Covid, I found myself involved with two amazing challenges online – a 31-day Wisdom Challenge hosted by Pedro Adao as well as a 5-day Prophetic Planning Challenge by Roma Waterman.

Honing into the voice of the Lord was the number one thing that I needed spiritually, because where the enemy brings chaos, God brings clarity. So I learnt to lean in closer and hear what the Lord was saying and what I heard back from him, friends has given me much hope moving on, not only for a promised future, but for life as it happens – right here, right now.

Let me try and break down the fruit I have received thus far, from this rather uncommon time here:

1. Facebook Lives:

Watching a dazzling array of powerful speakers like Bill Johnson, Lisa Bevere and Heidi Baker across a time span of 31 days in Pedro Adao’s Wisdom Challenge during this time was the very thing that gave me the unction to go ahead with my first set of FB lives!

Though I was physically battling weakness, I experienced the Lord’s anointing work dynamically to create beauty within and bring meaning to an otherwise bleak landscape. I was truly reminded of what they say,

Every dark cloud has a silver lining.

2. The Book of Proverbs:

It was Dr Brian Simmons who in Jan beginning kicked off not only the Wisdom Challenge, but also my own personal time in the Book of Proverbs. Not only have I been enjoying my time in this book, but it has produced much fruit – challenging me, exhorting me, calling me higher.

Lady Wisdom, it seems, must be pursued. And this past season, I have found myself running.

3. Divine Rhythms of Grace, Rest & Play:

Learning to lay down creative projects for a bit and to prioritize instead my personal healing and recovery has been a huge part of my process thus far, but also a kind of eye-opener concerning the true heart of the Father towards me.

I’m learning, friend, that He isn’t after my works. He is after my wholeness – body, spirit and soul.

Author, Hannah Brencher encapsulates this sentiment beautifully as a part of her own personal journey with Jesus this season as she affirms,

I AM IMPORTANT + I MATTER

So with the right order of priorities, I now am learning to create in a grace-filled, restful and playful way through the Lord’s unforced rhythms that keep me whole, and don’t leave me broken.

Because the truth is works don’t validate me. Love does.

4. Soak-Sprout-Sautè:

I have also been learning from Jesus the art of soaking + sprouting lentils and whole grains. Finding myself in the kitchen – chopping and sautèing – a mixed bag of carrots, beans, cauliflower, capsicum and broccoli has been symbolic of a subtle, but sure shift from my tendency to have processed foods to a much more healthy intake.

Nope, I am not giving a class on cooking, but rather offering on a plate the perspective that my body (and yours) is not a dumpyard, it is a temple of the Holy Spirit – the very house of God.

And what he calls holy ground, I’m learning to too.

5. Switch the Lights:

I also learnt this season a very interesting fact – the white lights that we use in our rooms & homes after sunset deceive our senses into believing that its still day time, which causes us to remain subconsciously alert even after the sun goes down.

This increased brain activity at a time that God designed for our bodies to rest & renew, results in prolonged evenings/nights and crabby mornings.

So what’s the antidote?

A very small change has made a big impact for me, friend.

I decided to ditch the idea of using white lights after sunset, and stick to a yellow table lamp instead. One could actually try candles too. The idea is to create an environment that helps reduce activity and promote rest instead.

Switching the lights can most definitely switch the script.

The God of All Things

Candid confession time now.

Until recently, I believed that God was only interested in moving the big mountains that stood in my way, and didn’t really care that much about my day-to-day life.

But looking back on my experience as I write this today, I am so amazed, friend, at how wonderfully He has revealed himself to me to be both,

The God of the Practical + The God of the Miraculous

My experience in these times testifies that God is a hands-on Father. He is so crazy about His kids that He insists on being involved in the details of our lives.

From hiding tiny surprises for us as He meets our everyday needs to manifesting divine interventions that part the proverbial Red Sea, He is invested in it all as the God of the mundane, but also as the God of the mighty.

So as I wait upon Him to perform the signs, wonders & miracles that I know He has promised me, I am also deeply content in knowing Him as an intimately connected Father who walks with me in the cool of the day, and is hugely interested in revealing His kabod to me – not only one day when, but also right here, right now.

OK.

Enough said.

I’m taking my foot off the gas, friend. We’re almost there!

The ride may have been bumpy at times, I admit. But you chose to stick it out with me, and I commend you for it.

You’ve been brave.

So as I get ready to roll up the windows, I thank you for the priviledge of your company.

I do need you to know that I am proud of journeying alongside a worthy fellow traveller like you. The roadblocks and humps we have needed to manouver were very real, but so was the beauty and the glory that came with the trip.

All because of the reality of a God, who despite my taking leave right now, promises to be by your side forever – without a shadow of turning. So remember to let him in, friend and let him take over.

For its this kind of genius love that gets in the driver’s seat for us, and taking a hold of the steering wheel of our lives; leans over waiting patiently as we settle into the passenger seat, to hand us a steaming cup of mocha with a glint in his eye that lovingly says,

“Buckle up, babycakes. Its your Father who has the wheel.”

Get ready for some kabod.

The Reason for the Season 🌟

Friends, I live in India. And quite honestly, it isn’t very Christmassy this time of the year this side of the planet. But as I walk this season out with the Lord, I am reminded by him that He is the reason for the season.

So I reckoned what it must be like for my friends in the family of God in cultures that do celebrate this season in a way that’s nothing short of spectacular.

The gingerbread cookies come out the oven, the sound of carols & hymns hangs in the air, ferry lights and candles light up the space, and the beautifully ornamented Christmas tree looks delightfully inviting.

Yet, as I ponder this, I am sensitised by Jesus to the revelation that each culture comes with its own set of limitations and challenges this season.

Whether its for someone like me where apart from some evening lights, the world seems to go buzzing by; or for someone located where its such a big deal that the busyness of it all threatens to drown out the wonder of the reason for the season; the Good News is that Redemption for both of us is found in one place –

The Person of Jesus.

So whether the season looks bleak or busy for us, I feel like the Lord is encouraging us to find rest & renewal for our souls as we behold the wonder of who He is.

For He is the reason for the season.

He who was, who is and is yet to come.

Christ in us – the hope of glory, is the real Christmas treat & treasure for us, friends. As I dig in and find nuggets that leave me in awe, I am reminded that to be present to His Presence is the truest Christmas present we can present to ourselves and to Him this season 🎁

Letting Him in, and letting His light so shine, I pray!

Wishing you a wonder-full Advent, dear one.

Signed in holy expectation,
Simran

🤍🎅🏻🤍

Advent, my Friend!

“The Son of God lays down his privileges, wraps himself in flesh and comes as a babe in a manger.”

The world awaited a Savior. Many prophecies and 400 years later, there was still no answer.

But then, He came.

He did not come as one would expect. No. Not with pomp and show, but rather with a humility and fragility that almost takes us by surprise.

The King of glory redeines and revolutionizes our concept of ‘Kingship’ by authenticating it through ‘Servanthood’ and translating this unique hybrid into the language, the identity and reality of “Sonship.”

Friends, we have a Savior in Jesus because we need relationship with the Father. We are not orphans or strangers with respect to the Father, but rather closely held, delightfully known and tenderly loved Children of the most high God who is Perfect in His heart towards us, and it was to reveal the height, the depth, the length, the width of this magnanimous heart that Jesus came.

Not as a military dictator – because that’s not who the Father is. But rather as a helpless babe in a manger – to identify with us so that we could identify with Him, for compassion is who the Father truly is.

Slowly growing up in wisdom and stature, the Son of God modelled for us the “Perfect Servant-King.” And the Bible tells me that as He is, so are we in this world.

I don’t know what your story is, friend. But mine has seen me discovering the truth of my identity as a Daughter of the King of kings and then also the beauty of my role through my relationship with the Father in the earth. What that means every single day is the hope that I awaken with and awaken to every single day.

So for the string of days leading upto Christmas beginning with Advent, I feel like we have a fresh invitation & opportunity from the Lord to seek to know Him – as a Father so that we can be known as much loved Children.

There is no fear in love, but Perfect Love casts out all fear. In a day and age where there is so much temptation to live in fear, anxiety or dread; I’d rather be defined by the Love of my Father and let His Love transform the story of my life.

Because He came, I’m going.

Straight into the arms of my Father. For who was once a helpless babe in a manger is now the Risen King of glory who is the Savior of the world, but also my personal, perfect, intimately connected and hugely involved – “Father.”

In response, its only natural to want to press in to know Christ this Christmas, friend.

So let’s do that!

He is our Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace.

To discover Him is to unwrap the gift of Christmas.

🎁

So as I knit my heart with yours, I hope and pray that the winter snow kisses you afresh and awakens you to the desire of the Father.

For to make you known to Him was also why Jesus came, and I’m guessing we’re going to make it count this season.

Cheerio!

🎄☃️🎅🏻🌲❄

Living deeper

Doing life with Jesus is always with a shovel in hand.

Learning to glean wisdom from my wounds and scratch beneath the surface.

As always, you are welcome to join me friend!

💜🤍

Let Love happen

I’ve noticed one thing about pain. It compels us to misunderstand the nature and character of God.

Much like Eve.

Cut to the chase, here goes.

The Bible tells us that God told Eve she was free to eat from any tree in the Garden of Eden, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Why did He do that?

I believe that God was actually protecting her freedom and that of man, because we were perhaps never designed to know any evil. Yet, in the face of an inadequate understanding of God’s true nature, Eve sinned.

To me friends, it is not so much the sin that led her to partake of the forbidden fruit that matters, as much as it is what led her to.

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'”
(Genesis 3:1)

For the crafty serpent to come in and sow doubt in Eve’s mind with irrelevant questions like, “Did God really say?” and have her succumb to the temptation of sin so easily, I do feel that somewhere Eve did not know the nature and character of her God well enough to begin with.

Neither did I.

But when you know better, you do better.

I am so glad, friends that we serve a God who forgives, redeems and makes all things new.

Jesus does not sit on the Throne with a stock of all our sin. He already dealt with that on the Cross.

He sits on the Throne and fights for us instead.

Our God is with us. He is for us. And He fights for us.

The Good News here is that He does not fight for victory, He fights from it.

Talking of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Word of God says:

“Then Jesus made a public spectacle of all the powers and principalities of darkness, stripping away from them every weapon and all their spiritual authority and power to accuse us. And by the power of the cross, Jesus led them around as prisoners in a procession of triumph. He was not their prisoner; they were his!”

(Colossians 2:15, TPT)

In short?

Having defeated and disarmed the powers of darkness, Jesus reigns.

And in Him, we do too.

With absolute victory over sin, sickness and death; we are called to co-reign with Christ.

So in the face of so much adversity, persecution and trauma; I am learning to be very intentional about reminding myself of some truths that though appear basic, are the very cornerstone of our faith.

And what I am realizing is that though in Christ, we do have victory over sin, sickness and death; we are not exempt from pain and suffering.

We are in the world, but not of it.

The world we live in friends, is lost and broken. So are the people that constitute it.

So when God called us to fight the good fight of faith, He made it abundantly clear that we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against the forces of darkness for which we have absolute triumph through Christ.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
(Ephesians 6:12)

Yes and Amen.

So it naturally follows that our enemy is not our parent, our sibling or our next door neighbour.

Our enemy is the devil, Satan. And the Good News is that he is defeated.

Yes.

The same crafty serpent that once deceived Eve and has continued in his attempts till date, is forever defeated.

How?

"By the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony." 

(Revelation 12:11)

But here is the catch.

The degree to which we seek to know the Lord is the degree to which we will be abe to walk conscious of this reality, on an everyday basis.

Pain and suffering always threaten to numb or dim our consciousness of the victory we have through Christ. So it becomes important that we learn to process it in a healthy way.

In a way that is worthy of us.

For our perspective during such times, is the difference between life and death.

We will either succumb to the despair and hopelessness that our enemy, Satan would love for us.

OR.

Or we can choose to run to Jesus.
Run to Him for the healing we need in our souls and the perspective we need in our thought process.

Co-operating with the reality that God is trying to cultivate in us during such times friends, is key.

Are we trying to avenge ourselves, or are we letting Him avenge us?

Are we wasting precious emotional resources on harbouring bitterness and resentment, or are we learning to forgive, let go and trust God?

Are we walking in anxiety and dread, or in the fullness of the peace and power that the Lord died for us to receive?

The difference between the two sets of scenarious presented here is the difference between being a victim of our circumstances or rising above them as more than conquerors through Christ.

God often says to us,

Choose life.

Therefore, I choose to intentionally put Christ first. To surrender my will to be aligned with His and I find that the more I do so, the more I get to know the Lord.

Friends, as I am learning to do just what He says, I have found myself face-to-face with one beautiful yet startling reality,

“I may know Jesus fairly well, but I don’t know Him well enough.”

I really don’t.

I may know Him well enough to know that He is fully and completely worthy of my faith and trust, but I don’t know Him well enough to know just how much He does honour child-like trust and mustard-seed faith.

I may know Him well enough to know that He is perfect in love and perfect in wisdom, but I don’t know Him well enough to know the full extent of all that He really is, all that He is capable of doing and all that which He will do.

I may know Him well enough to know that He is my best friend and my glorious king, but I don’t know Him well enough to know His next move on my behalf.

I may know Him well enough to know that He will never leave me nor forsake me, but I don’t know Him well enough to know just how very faithful and relentless His pursuit of me, in reality, is.

I may know Him well enough to know that He is sovereign and has the final say in all matters that concern us, but I don’t know Him well enough to know just how He will bend the rules of the game as we journey on.

I may know Him well enough to know that He is good, He does good and He works all things together for good in conformity with the counsel of His will, but I don’t know Him well enough to know just how He will manifest this Romans 8:28 promise again in my life circumstances.

I know Him fairly well, friends. But I don’t know Him well enough.

Fairly well to know Him as a beloved father, a heavenly saviour and a dreadful champion of my cause; but not well enough to know just what that may mean in its entirety as my destiny unfolds.

But I take heart in what I do know.

For what I do know is that with each day that unfolds, I can seek to know Him more.

Filled with the awe and wonder of His majesty, His mercy and His might.

And somewhere I suspect that the same holds true for you too, my friend.

So together?

Let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.

Let Love happen.

💖

7 ways to experience inner health and wholeness in a post-pandemic world

As we cross the half-year mark this June of 2021, I consider it a privilege to share with you, dear friend, some really simple, inspiring and completely doable ways to help manifest inner healing and wholeness.

My own personal journey with Christ this year has had me experience some truly profound moments of emotional, spiritual and physical healing and wholeness in the aftermath of perhaps, one of the most unprecedented years in our generation, 2020.

In the midst of a world that is ever changing, I am so grateful for the anchoring and freedom we get to have in and through our relationship with an unchanging God.

It is only in the context of being able to openly process our deepest hurt and heart-ache that we are set free. Perfect Love casts out fear, dismantles lies and reveals Truth. And it is only the Truth that we know that sets us free.

So I have broken down 5 concrete ways for us to get ourselves into the safety and security of God’s Presence, which is truly and unquestionably, Heaven’s healing salve to our souls.

1. Playing praise music

In my experience friends, putting on some praise music that helps us connect to the Father heart of God is by far, the most effective conduit between Heaven and earth.

I find that whenever I am emotionally distressed or circumstantially confused, running into His Presence for some rest and perspective is essential. The world maybe in chaos today, but the Good News is that we don’t have to. We can choose to remain at peace and rest in the Lord.

Now, this does not mean that we don’t ‘feel’ the upheaval in our thoughts and emotions as a result of whatever it is that seems to be going on in our lives from time to time, but it does mean that we are not moved by it.

We remain anchored in Christ.

Personally, whenever confronted with a challenge that threatens to take my breath away, I run to Him. I don’t walk, I run.

I simply put on some praise music that I can easily get my hands on in the moment and allow the Lord to calm me down and lovingly minister to me. I like to pray and invite the Holy Spirit to come over my mind, my emotions, my heart, my body, my spirit and my soul and do what only He can do.

“‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Zechariah 4:6)

There often are times I confess when my heart is so full that I need to let it all out before the Lord. So my praise music has to (for some time!) go down in terms of volume a couple of notches, so that as the music continues to play, ushering in the anointing of His Presence, I have the opportunity to verbally and openly let Him know exactly how I am feeling.

I often say that for my feelings to not get in the way of my faith, I must be willing to acknowledge them and process them with the Lord. Not deny or bury. Not stifle or suffocate. Rather, bring it all out in the light. And it is through such relational dialogue in these times that I receive the healing that only His Love and Truth can bring.

Healing and wholeness in Christ are an opportunity for a most wonderful Divine exchange to manifest; Spirit, soul and body. For it is His Presence that gently rushes in and starts to breathe down the walls that threaten to block our communion with Him, and consequently our ability to receive from Him; whether it is truth-based perspective, loving correction or timely affirmation.

Tending to our souls in the midst of chaos by running to the only One who has the eternal treasures of peace, love, hope and truth to offer us in the midst of any ongoing whirlwind is the very heart of healing, health and wholeness.

So friend,

What song can you play today to invite the loving presence of God?

2. Spending time in the Word

Jesus said,

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

The Word of God to me is a doorway into His Presence. It is encountering the Truth of who God says He is, who He says I am as His covenant child, and the hope that He has for my life that allows me discern the lies that I have believed and trade them for the truth that sets me free.

Friends, it is in allowing the Lord to use His Word to personally as well as prophetically speak to us that creates both, healing and hope. Healing – as He addresses the issues of our Identity in Him, and Hope – as He reveals the strategy of Heaven for our lives.

Personally, I have prioritized my relationship with Christ through His living and active Word, over anything else. I have started learning to let Him lead my time through the Bible, both Old and New Testament. I pray for healing, renewal, revelation and nourishment to come forth.

The fruits have been sweet, friends and the rewards have been rich.

I find the Psalms of David particularly helpful. Written in a beautifully poetic manner, they effortlessly give language to the emotions I experience as I navigate my way through life. Though any translation of the Bible can do, I find the inspiration that streams through The Passion Translation by Dr. Brian Simmons quite remarkable.

David was chosen by God as a humble shepherd boy from Bethlehem, anointed to be king over Israel and then exalted to the prestigious position after a rather long, drawn out waiting and preparation period in between which I feel, encapsulates the heart of our own unique journey with the Lord too.

David’s life and reign reveal that he was blatantly rejected by his brothers, ruthlessly pursued by Saul, openly challenged by his own son but eventually prevailed through it all because of his abiding love for God and the trust that love inspires.

So often, we can also feel much like David. Betrayed, rejected, lost, confused, abandoned, persecuted and overwhelmed. But the Psalms always remind me that when I do, I am in good company.

Friend, where can you camp out with Jesus through His Word today?

3. Keeping a journal

In my healing journey thus far, I have found keeping a journal by my side an extremely potent tool. It allows me to co-operate with the work of the Holy Spirit at any given point of time, and to openly process hidden areas of pain with the Lord.

I realised this year friends, that most of our wounds in life date back to our childhood years.Brokenness through rejection/abuse of any sort in those early, tender years can seriously damage the lens through which we view the world. But as believers in Christ, we can take heart because we have the privilege of being able to invite the Holy Spirit into those areas so that He can shine His glorious light.

Gospel preacher and evangelist, Christine Caine often says,

“Whatever is not revealed, cannot be healed.”

I agree it can be difficult, but we can do hard things for the glory of God. We can do the hard and holy work of forgiveness. We can pray for the beautiful Holy Spirit of God to soften and tenderise the ground of our hearts, so that when we are ready to process some marred areas of our lives with the Lord, we can tap into deeper levels of freedom and health.

How can you put pen to paper today and write out your most honest and vulnerable thoughts to God, even if all you have is one line?

4. Communing in nature

During times when I find myself in the midst of an emotional tailspin, I like to take time to myself and just go out. Mostly for a short walk outdoors – to fill my lungs with fresh air and dig my feet into the earth below, and when I’m ready, to also commune with the Lord through nature.

The beauty and marvel of creation does something to the human soul. It gets our hearts in sync with the majestic brilliance of the Creator of it all, our Father in Heaven.

Whether we are met with a dazzling array of stars in the nightsky, or the splendour of golden rays streaming through a cloudless morning, or a simple landscape of green trees and pink flowers; it all points to Him – the author and the finisher of our faith.

I have experienced God calm me through my time in nature – through the chirping of the birds, and the warmth of the moist soil below. He touches my heart through it all and points me straight back Home. I can finally, inhale and exhale. Fully and freely, friends.

Experienced author and prolific speaker, Lysa Terkeurst recently shared from her own healing journey, and said something quite simple yet profound. She suggested that at those times we feel a trauma trigger, we need to invest in some soul care – take four ounces of water and give about 20 mins for our ‘amygdala’ (the part of our brains where trauma is stored) to calm down. She also encourages us to step out and look at the sky, to remind ourselves that the same God who kept the stars in place today has my life in the palm of His hands. He remains in control, and so I can let go and trust that He has my back.

How can you take time with Jesus in nature today and allow the gaze of your heart to shift back onto Him?

5. Reading a relevant resource

I honestly love reading the testimonies of people who have gone before me. People who have had some incredible brokenness in their past, but in and through a relationship with Christ, God intervened and made all things new.

My two favorite women of God in this regard are Joyce Meyer and Christine Caine. It is so encouraging for me to know that though they both are powerhouse Bible teachers and Christians evangelists, they didn’t really have a good start in life. Yet God saved them, healed them, transformed them, used them. And the same God is both, willing and able to do it for you and for me, for He is no respector of persons.

The Bible says,

“The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10)

What He does for one, He will do for anyone who comes to Him in humility and trust.

In the first quarter of 2021, I had the Holy Spirit lead me into reading, “Unashamed” by Christine Caine, twice. Each time I read portions of it, the Lord would encounter me in a fresh, new way; peeling back the layers of shame each time and introducing me to new found freedom.

I highly recommend reading a resource from someone whose faith and voice you respect, dear friend, to minister to you and inspire you to take those necessary steps towards healing and wholeness.

Some pertinent resources that come to my mind are –

• “Unashamed” by Christine Caine (for freedom from the baggage of shame)

• “Woman evolve” by Sarah Jakes Roberts (for moving past the shackles of fear and forward into the fullness of our Identity and calling)

• “Seeing beautiful again” by Lysa Terkeurst (50 devotionals to help find redemption in every part of our story)

• “Reflecting God” by Liz Wright (for a profound awakening to the truth of our Identity in Christ)

• “Healing the soul of a woman” by Joyce Meyer (for nuggets of wisdom on how to process our healing journey from a woman who has found a new life in Christ past the trauma of sexual abuse)

Which one will you want to pick for yourself?

6. Speaking to a trusted friend

I have a high value in life for wise, Godly counsel, and people who are able to bring the wisdom of Heaven into my life, in and through the Love of God, are invariably a treasure house and a grace-gift to me.

As important as it is for me to receive wise counsel from time to time, it is also important that I am able to have a safe place in my healing journey with a trusted friend who is willing to lend me a listening ear, without any threat of judgement or condemnation; but rather is instrumental in creating an environment where Love can manifest.

There is healing when we are heard and understood by someone we can trust. They don’t need to hold the answers to our problems, they only need to be a safe place for us as we process the pain of our traumatic pasts. For there is healing in safety.

Sometimes friends, the most loving thing someone can do is to just be with us in the presence of pain.

There is power in vulnerability. Pride will have us masquerade and pretend that it’s not really a big deal. But the truth is that our hearts matter. Especially when they are broken.

To help tend to our pain, a trusted friend or a Christian counselor/therapist, can prove to be invaluable. My own journey testifies.

So friend, as you were reading, did God bring someone in your spirit that you would like to reach out to? If not, would you be willing to pray and ask God to bring a trusted, wise friend/counselor in your life?

7. Soaking

I was first introduced to the power of soaking in 2019 through the prophetic ministry of Graham Cooke. I have never been the same since.

Soaking for me is a wonderful way to enjoy a slice of Heaven on earth. Our world, particularly in this present day, time and season; is full of chaos and stress. So how can we, as a people called to remain at peace and rest, do so?

One of the strategies that holds the key to this dilemma is, in my experience, soaking. Simply put, it is an audio where the Word of God is presented and released over our lives in a powerful way. Usually, the audio will have gentle strains of instrumental music playing in the background. It’s purpose is to reveal the truth of God’s Heart towards us and the anointing of the Holy Spirit thus released, serves to heal our hearts,calm our emotions, refresh our spirits, renew our minds and restore our bodies. It truly is a time of self-care and nourishment, a time to receive abundantly so that we can truly give.

Some soaking resources that I can safely recommend are –

• Soaking by Graham Cooke (easily available on YouTube or his website, brilliantperspectives.com)

• “Reflecting God” by Liz Wright ( a soaking album on YouTube)

• “Abide Meditation” (beautiful, Biblical bedtime stories as well as promises of God spoken and prayed over the listener, available on YouTube to help soak in the presence of God before sleep)

• “Soakstream” (a channel on YouTube with Scriptures released against the backdrop of amazing ocean sounds or soothing instrumental music)

• “Instrumental soaking music” by Eric Gilmour easily available on YouTube

How do you want to soak in His Presence today, friend?

I hope you will ponder the questions I have left you with and let yourself linger in His Presence a bit. Should it be just one way that you pick from the seven that I have listed, I want you to know you are doing well. Wherever you are on the roadmap of your journey, it’s exactly where you need to be.

For the goal is to connect to His Presence and remain connected, friend. It is His Presence which heals, redeems and resets. He is Jehovah Rapha – the Lord, our healer. May you find His loving arms to be a safe refuge and an oasis of bliss that truly nothing can compare to.

Would you allow me to lead you in prayer, friend as we use these precious moments to draw to a gentle close? Just say with me,

“Dear Heavenly Father,
I am so thankful for the gift of abundant life that Jesus died for me to receive. He was broken so I could be made whole, and by His stripes, I am healed. So I ask Father, for this beautiful divine exchange to be made fully manifest in my life – Spirit, soul and body. I entrust the healing of my heart and the restoration of my life completely into your care. I invite your radiant Holy Spirit to lead me and guide me in this process, and help me to see you make everything beautiful again. From the inside-out.
In the matchless Name of Jesus,
Amen.”

Welcome Home.

💒🤗

Our Love Language

A sliver of Grace, a slice of Heaven.

So it’s a beautiful man playing a flute on the streets right outside our community garden.

Distant strains of music, still deeply resonating with my heart.

A bird starts to chirp as the sun begins to set. It’s golden rays are beaming on my face as I dare to look towards it.

Squinting, I look away and resume my writing.

In the midst of an unrelenting lockdown, the cars that are buzzing to and fro seem to point to a people that are determined to not let anything stand in their way.

I bless them.

Evenings walks with Jesus never felt more full of wonder. In the light of the mysterious way that only He knows to connect, yellow flowers have now become our love language for this season.

But wait.

The sound of someone precious putting the utensils away right where they belong.

But I know where I belong, so I resume my writing.

Stone benches held up by layers of cemented bricks are my favourite place to park myself.

But as I do, I notice that the roses in these bushes close by are a bit closed up. I sort of miss them blossoming forth as usual. But love is patient, I remind myself.

So as I resume my writing again, I seek to draw to a close.

Swift enough to return to the wonder of communing with Jesus through the majesty of creation, but hopefully potent enough to let you linger too.

Linger in the presence of His Love and linger in the beauty of your own unique miracle story with Him.

In a coffee shop. In a park nearby. In the sanctuary. In the friend’s garage or in the comfort of your home.

Because Jesus will find you anywhere.

Be still and know…

He loves you 💛

🌼🌼🌼

The Light that shines ever so bright!

You’re a golden gleam
Lighting up our shadows
Bringing meaning to it all
For behind us, You surely stand tall.

We behold and become
More and more like You
Glorious and true
For that’s in line with You.

You don’t despise our brokenness
But through it, You shine
Bringing victory from ashes
You’re our sure twine.

In You alone are we made whole
Our lives honoured and held secure
So as we cast our cares on You
We know come what may, it will never take a toll.

For You’re so much bigger than words can ever say
So we exalt You day by day
And as we do, we find ourselves
Slowly but surely, ray by ray.
☀️

Becoming.

“Becoming is a process of not striving, but surrender.”

The Lord put this thought on my heart last night, and I thought perhaps it wasn’t just for me.

The world we live in today is obsessed with achievement which inevitably puts everyone on a performance treadmill. Everyone wants to become something, and as great as that ambition is, it should never be something that consumes us, rather something that serves to provoke us to a Greater Truth – what can we become on the inside so as to manifest the desired results on the outside?

Therein lies the absolute beauty of entering into a relationship with The Anointed One, Jesus. As we slowly are grafted into Him, we begin to realize that we already are all that we need to be because we are complete IN Him. However, does that mean that now that The Holy Spirit has made His Dwelling in our midst, we don’t have to grow anymore? On the contrary, I believe our most authentic work of transformation has just about begun, and will continue till we see Him face to face. 1 Corinthians 13 is something we are all familiar with,

“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

I believe that as we continue to walk with The Lord, we allow Him to slowly, deeply and gently unpack those seeds of greatness that He has already deposited on the inside of us. We already have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. However, these fruits of The Holy Spirit have to be gradually and consistently developed and exercised. The degree to which we allow these fruits to develop is the degree to which we will be in a position to receive the fullness of what God has promised us.

This though, in my experience, is not a result of striving but rather a process of surrender. Each time God deals with our anger issue, or selfishness, or discipline; and we faithfully surrender, submit and say, “Yes,” we can be rest assured that as we are allowing God to evolve us and forge His Character on the inside of us; we are well on our way to promotion.

The spouse will come, the child will turn around, the marriage will be restored, the right job will manifest. Simply because God honors our obedience. We cannot be in a relationship with Christ and expect the fruit of it to manifest as a result of striving to be better, we can expect a bountiful harvest only by walking along in a spirit of total surrender – an open mind, a soft heart, a courageous soul.

God wants us to live a wide, open and spacious life. But we also have to allow Him to enlarge the place of our tent. As we let Him do what He wants to do on the inside of us, results on the outside will have no option but to come forth.

This is the process of “becoming” that I have embarked upon in my lifetime, with a confident assurance that He who has begun a good work in me shall perform it unto completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I hope this encourages you today friends, to let go and let Him take over, and as you do, know that Heaven is cheering you on.

And so am I.