"I will not keep silent because of Zion, and I will not keep still because of Jerusalem, until her righteousness shines like a bright light and her salvation, like a flaming torch." (Isaiah 62:1)
When Elizabeth came into my life last Dec, I really had no idea about the life & weight she carried for me. It was my response to the Lord’s gentle nudging from within that had me get her from the local nursery, but little did I know that a journey of sorts had just begun.
Over the months, I saw her go from a beautiful, bright red-leaved plant to a dry, dull green-leaved survivor that honestly, was quite discouraging.
Presenting Elizabeth!
After a 3-week battle where I shifted her in and fought for her, I knew I had to let her go.
So I prayed for her, committed her to the Lord and sowed her as a seed in the ground before finally bidding her adieu.
Friend, how often do we hit a curveball like this in life, and then think it’s all over when it’s actually only a new beginning?
Had I simply dumped Elizabeth on the pavement, it would have been a different story. But committing her to the Lord as a seed buried in the ground has fetched me a completely different result.
A few weeks later, I began to notice the entire landscape & geography of my living space shift. The Lord had been working within me, through me and also on my behalf in a way that has served to release a most beautiful, diverse and buoyant plant family in my life!
These folks initiated the release πMy first succulent planter πͺ΄Except that it’s a snail π π Yes he is! π΄In a capsule π
All this to say that should you have lost any thing/person dear and precious to you, then take heart. All is not lost.
As surely as I grieve with you, I also simultaneously encourage you to sow the thing/person as a seed in the ground, for Jesus is faithful to receive your seed, honor it and multiply it. In the kingdom of God, what is dead and buried is often used to raise a harvest of righteousness and bring in newness of life that could never have been anticipated.
For me, it looks like a brand new plant family springing up to life in the wake of one seed – Elizabeth – that was an unwitting sacrifice. For you, it can look completely different. But what we do have in common is the perfectly righteous God we serve who can and who does use all things for our good and his great glory!
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 thisβforever! 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 sautΓ¨ing – 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.”
Bringing in the New Year with fresh hope & vigour, friends. Thanks for being a part of this tiny space this year. Hope and pray God’s very best over you and yours in 2022!
In a few days, friends, we will be moving into a brand new year. But as we do, may we look back on the year that has been 2021 – not to stay stuck in what we are gearing up to wrap up, but rather to reflect & learn so that we can grow as we go. For me personally, this year has been both, difficult + monumental. It has had me traverse the roughest terrain, navigate my way through snakes and adders, but it has also seen the Lord’s hand move me through my pain so mightily that it has grown me closer to His heart than I have ever been.
I call this the art of finding the ‘beauty in the brokenness.’
It will need us to get alone with Jesus for some time so that God is invited in to clean up the lens of our perception and show us the glory of what has been as He takes us into what will be in 2022.
The Father has good plans for us. For each and every single one of us. I believe that with all my heart.
For Jesus writes the script of our lives with grace, hope and promise. He does not plot our pain, but He does use it to evolve us.
So as we prepare our hearts this time of the year, let me leave you with some thoughts.
What was may not have been easy, but I bet it transformed you. I bet it gave you greater grit, purer faith and more strength of character than ever before.
I bet it developed things on the inside of you that couldn’t have been developed any other way.
I bet it taught you to turn your back on the inferior and pursue the superior.
I bet it introduced you to a version of yourself that reflects the image of its Creator better than it ever has.
And I bet that that’s worthy of celebration, sweet friend.
I bet that’s reason enough to tie a bow on 2021, receive the glory it carried and let that fuel us into the next.
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Friends, this was my desire since the beginning of 2020. I kid you not.
Ever since I discovered it right next to my home, I really wanted to hop across and sip some coffee with Jesus here, but somehow or the other, I couldn’t.
Today however, was different.
I know that we have hit that time of the year – apples π or pumpkin π ?
I personally really love apples. So that was my intent as I made my way to Starbucks today – a slice of apple pie.
Yup, I didn’t know it. But I guess you figured!
Starbucks doesn’t offer apple pie, but what it does offer is a drink of ‘Pumpkin Spice Latte.’
β slurp..
Jesus trains us to make the best of every opportunity. So what was going to stop me now?
You guessed it – nothing.
Though I am an apple person, I like pumpkin too and especially when I get to inaugurate Fall with Jesus through it!
‘Pumpkin Spice Latte,’ I am happy to report, was simply super! I realised that I could be equally happy with both – ππ After all, the girl in the story delighted in both too. She picked both – the reddest of apples and also, the perfect pumpkin.
So why do we get to choose?
Not sure .. for I love ’em both and as I go into Fall, I am entering with both, a whiff of pumpkin π but also with the hope of some delicious apple pie π
He is a Good, Good Father who delights in the desires of our hearts. Yes, even those tender ones that we are tempted to discount. For me, this has meant a beautiful amalgam of Loops + Journal + Bible Study these past few days.
I first saw these loops earlier this year on Jenn Johnson and I immediately knew that I would very much like a pair for myself. Was it the best time for me to indulge?
Honestly, no.
So I laid it down.
Soon after, I saw this journal in the shop next door. It caught my eye, as only some things do. I immediately knew that I wanted to purchase it, yet I wasn’t too sure. Not sure if it was needed, not sure if it even fit my budget.
But I had it in my heart. So I laid it down.
Fast forward to August. I get my hands on this awesome Bible Study by Hannah Brencher and yes, I knew I wanted to dive in. But I wasn’t so sure yet again. I was in a trial and my focus was different.
So I laid it down.
Come September γNew Beginnings
Come September, and God starts to reveal Himself as the Father He always has been, but in a whole new way.
Tender, Gracious, Extravagant.
A Father who is so intimately involved in the details of His Daughter’s life, that even when she forgets, He remembers.
He remembers the what, He knows the where, He orders the steps.
To put it bluntly, the past few seasons have been dark. Staying close to Jesus, I have learned to navigate murky waters and make my way through the fiercest storms. I didn’t know if I could even take it at times, but He carried me anyway.
And He has brought me safely through.
Come September, and God starts to reveal some tender, new truths that suddenly bring a ton of light into my life. He keeps me sensitive to the fact that times and seasons do change, and He is, in fact, Faithful. He tells me to burn the bridges to the trauma of seasons past, and create space for Him to build some new bridges in my life instead.
Some new bridges that will connect the dots… from where I am to where He has promised to take me.
But this also needs faith at a whole new level.
As surely as I have needed faith to sustain me in times of warfare and difficulty, I now also need faith to step into the breakthrough He has fought for me to receive.
“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
(Luke 9:62)
So I decide now to not look back, and instead, to let go of what was so that I can step into what is and what will be..
Legacy as the Script is in the hands of a world-changing God.
So guess what He is doing?
A new thing within the New Thing.
Revealing Fatherhood. Growing relationship. Building bridges..
… for the bridge that links my present to my future is made with the bricks of authenticity, vulnerability and transformation…
And it needs me to open up. It needs me to let go. It needs me to listen to His voice.
It needs me to listen to the still, small voice within. Cliched as it may be, but oh-so-true!
And if I pay attention, I can hear Him.
I can hear Him rap ever so gently on the door of my heart, beckoning me to open up. I can hear Him take me by the hand, inviting me to release control and choose to trust Him instead. I can hear Him bring to rememberance things long forgotten, but only until such a time as this.
Because the Truth is that times do change, desires do come to fruition and promises are made manifest.
And when its time, He can’t be stopped.
“He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them.”
(Daniel 2:21)
He is a Good, Good Father whose unrelenting Love will chase us down till we get it ..
His heart for us that is as true as the still, small voice within.
The tender whispers, the gentle musings that come up, seemingly out of nowhere, and remind me that its time for the loops to be bought, for the journal to be filled in and the Bible Study to be printed.
All because my Father knows. My Father sees. My Father cares.
Which brings me to another point.
The Word of God tells me that He will give me the desires of my heart. No – He won’t give me what I want, but rather what to want. And when He does, I know that He doesn’t give me the desires of my heart to frustrate them, but rather to fulfill them.
Whether it’s a beautiful amalgam of loops + journal + Bible study today, or may be a seemingly more important issue tomorrow, I’m beginning to realise that God is involved in the details of our lives.
After all, everything is small for a big God like Him.
All of this to say –
On the day that marks the beginning of the last quarter of 2021, may we pause and listen for His whisper. And as we do,
May we consider. May we follow. May we rejoice.
May we rejoice in the voice that wades through our thoughts, pierces through the dark, debunks all lies and brings forth light.
May we rejoice in the voice that lifts our spirits, cheers our hearts and encourages our souls to believe at a level that though seemingly outrageous, is only our normal.
May we rejoice in the voice that serves as our GPS and tells us to go another route even when we are convinced that we know what we are doing, and sometimes I think, precisely then.
May we rejoice in the voice that tells us enough price was paid for us to have the permission we need to be free, to be healed, to be whole and to be prosperous.
May we rejoice in the voice that tells us having seen all that you have, you haven’t seen nothing yet.
May we rejoice, friends in the voice deep within – so still, so small, so gentle, so tender – till it becomes the loudest in our lives. Till it is bigger than the narrative and clearer than the noise. Till it redefines reality and manifests life.
Till it is the sole thing that moves us, and as it does, we move mountains.
Till we let that voice win – every single time. Amplified by the sound of our obedience, and not diminished by the clanging of our fear or unbelief.
Till we let that voice have the Final Word.
Because I read the end of The Book, and my Bible says this:
Love wins.
So as I bring this letter to a close friends, I just want to ask you to heed that voice that is deep within you. It may be a tiny flicker, but as you fan it into a flame, know that it only takes a tiny match to set a forest on fire. He is in you and you are in Him – there is no more separation, but only the closeness of relationship. Father and Child enmeshed in Love, proclaiming Victory and rewriting Destiny.
You are a world-changer, just like your Daddy.
And don’t you let anyone tell you otherwise.
Here’s to Loops + Journal + Bible Study! And the treasures of wisdom that go for all eternity!
This is the Will of God for my life – 2 fish & 5 loaves of bread.
Maybe its true spiritually, but God doesn’t demarcate between the natural and spiritual like we do. It’s all one realm for He permeates all things, and uses the natural only to testify to the things of the Spirit.
So as I hobbled into the kitchen for my dinner, Mom had kept such a beautiful tray on display, friends.
2 fish & 5 loaves of bread.
(+ some excellently rich chocolate pastry, egg and mushroom soup π°ππ³π)
Sooo good!
This is where I discern Truth – for this must be the Will of God for my life!
ππ
I had a gorgeous meal. For I not only relished what God had laid out in front of me, but also the Who it was that did.
I took many small bites as I ate today. I savoured the taste and took in the smell of this sumptuous meal. I looked up and thanked God. I saw Jesus face-to-face, smiled and then broke bread. We had communion.
Blessed, broken and given.
2 fish & 5 loaves of bread served to takeΒ me straight into the Heart of God.
And I kid you not. As I took time to commune with Jesus, the already sweet bread became that much sweeter and softer, and I knew that Heaven had just touched earth.
I learnt something more too.
I realised that sometimes all we have to do is be willing to open up our eyes to the miracle of the 2 fish & 5 loaves of bread that are right out in front of us. The tiny blessings, the slivers of grace ..
.. where we know He didn’t have to do it, but He did.
SoulandSubstance27 