Hello People!!!!!
Hope you had a fantastic weekend and if you are in the United Kingdom area I hope this heat wave did not drive you slightly insane as it did to me...
Oh well we thank God for it all.
I'm quite early posting this week but it's all good as I feel this post is an appropriate post for an early post :-)
Yesterday I got talking with #AOD# and it ventured into one of our deep conversations. Now when we get into such conversations I tend to withdraw slightly and think of my words well before I speak so that I don't look silly.
Anyway he asked me a question; very simple yet I took it overboard with over thinking the question. The question was:
What is my(His) uppermost priority?
Now this question is a straight forward question that requires more often than not a single word answer.
Now here I was silent for about 30seconds thinking to myself what answer does this man want to hear from me now. The first thing that came into my mind I said to him but it did not seem to be the right answer and then I went ahead to say the next thing that came to my mind. The first was a word (name) the second was more or less an explanation.
For both answers they were wrong. And I think God was using #AOD# to remind me to go back to the basics. The simple answer he was expecting me to say was GOD.
Now why I didn't say this first I do not know. In everything I do right down to my twitter bio I describe myself as one whose aim is to please her master: that is my main purpose. And here I was being asked the same question by my other half and I had fumbled. I felt totally disappointment in myself. Not because I had failed to give the correct answer to #AOD# but because I felt I had let God down. It's like I had been going on with my daily routine of do this, pray this, read the bible this, go to church this and I had totally left out the person behind the wheel of it all.
I thank God for using #AOD# to remind me about what is really important. Pleasing GOD and doing His will ought to be and is my uppermost priority in life. It is sometimes easy to get so caught up in the rat race of life that one forgets that simple principle. May the Lord forgive me.
All through the night I tossed and turned with guilt. I have asked God to forgive me and I know He has. He then took me to two scriptures in the bible:
Matthew 6:33
'But seek FIRST his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well'
Romans 8: 28
'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his PURPOSE'
These two scriptures I have read previously over and over again. But reading it this morning showed me that in putting God as the topmost priority the chasing of life's pleasures becomes irrelevant as these are automatically added to me once I acknowledge his SUPREMACY and Leading in my life.
The verse in Romans 8 also reiterates that as we put God first(By virtue of our love for Him: following His will and direction for our lives) we become part and parcel of His purpose and in becoming part and parcel of that PURPOSE all things ought to and will work together for our good.
I am so going back to basics. I urge you to please take some time to ask yourself this question? If you can truly answer this question and sincerely know that God is not the first thing that comes to mind please I encourage you to take the step I have taken and ask for forgiveness and GO BACK TO BASICS.
Selah
VirtuousKelly
xxx
Showing posts with label Forgiveness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Forgiveness. Show all posts
Monday, 3 October 2011
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Outcomes!!!
Life has a way of dishing out circumstances and situations to you that you never bargained for. Everyone of us or at least most of us have had our lives mapped out one way or the other till a certain point but have had to re-adjust our settings to fit circumstances that may have altered them. Some of these circumstances are good while some are rather unfortunately, bad and may throw you into a state of dis-array, hurt and much more. However, sometimes circumstances which are thrown at us are backdrops to places and spheres we actually ought to be in life. This is what I have termed as OUTCOMES.
As Christians, we are taught and led by the spirit to leave everything to God and also involve Him in our plans. This is ultimately true as my motto in life is: Let Go and Let God as really there is nothing much more we can really do than that which we have already tried to do. Also how we react to this circumstances and situations thrown to us by life's winds which alters things in our lives is very important. As a daughter/Son of zion, your attitude, behaviour and reaction to such situations are being watched by all. So how then are we to carry ourselves into the OUTCOMES which are to propel us to our pre-destined positions in this life? Here are a few tips the holy spirit laid on my heart a few moments ago.
1. Learn to love yourself the way you and at the point you are at:
This is the problem a lot of us are facing at this present time. The high to always want to be at a stage where our other peers are at can hinder or distort the course our OUTCOMES are supposed to take. Just because one person has walked a thousand miles and you have walked five hundred does not make you a lesser person. The bible says: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. [Ecclesiastes 9:11] . I can't begin to count how many times I recite this verse in a day. I have felt confused and very much upset at times when I feel I deserve something and it has been handed over to another who I know did not go through half of what I went through. This verse was laid on my spirit and has taught me that each and everyone is running a different race: hence the race not being for the swift. It is how well you run your race that matters not how fast.
2. Attitude:
Your attitude speaks before you and says a lot about you. Please darlings lay aside the jealousy, envy and hate. It doesn't look good on a child of the kingdom or anyone for that matter. Stop holding on to grudges and letting them rule you. Have a forgiving spirit. Its not easy to forgive not to talk of forgetting. I have currently gone through a phase whereby I feel that holding on to certain hurts are not worth it. I tell myself, no matter how painful or upsetting the situation may be, that there was a reason for God allowing the hurt to happen. It sounds a bit out of place but it has totally worked for me. Its not easy to release grudges but the thing folks fail to realise about grudges is that it eats into you and hinders you from receiving pure happiness you are entitled to. I mean who doesn't want to be happy. I'll rather let you go than allow you still ruin my happiness. I mean its like loosing both ways which is extremely unnecessary. Let your attitude speak well for you and you will see it makes a whole lot of difference having an enchanting and acceptable attitude while journeying into your OUTCOME.
3. Pray:
I can not over-emphasise this enough. I have currently gone through a serious prayer rejuvenation that it feels as if when I don't pray I'm not complete. How do I explain this? It feels like when you are in love and the other party does not share the same sentiments any more and you feel like a part of you has been cut off, that's how I feel when I don't pray. The wonderful thing about prayer is the peace it brings. I am amazed as to how quickly this peace comes. When I have a problem the first thing I say sub-consciously is 'Holy Spirit, Help me!'. Its as simple as that and I feel a sudden re-assurance that I am not alone. Phillipians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.. This verse is absolutely powerful and so true. If Christ has made such an offer why not make the most of it. I'm tired of hearing people complain about one thing or the other and when I ask 'have you prayed?' silence takes the order of the day. Trust me sometimes it is hard to pray especially if the pain is so much that it seems prayer is not enough. I have recently realised that that is a lie of the devil. There is nothing prayer can not solve. You may not get an answer immediately, or the answer you want but an answer will come all the same. So in getting to that OUTCOME I encourage you to pray.
4. Speak words of life and strength into your life: BE POSITIVE:
I can understand that sometimes being positive is hard. I used to be formally known as the QUEEN LADY OF PESSIMISM but I thank God that I am being delivered from it all. The problem with negativity is that it makes you one sided and this can be very frustrating and I mean very very frustrating. You do not give a chance to see the other side of things which is truly a better side of things. You lock yourself up in a mental battle as if to obliterate any manner of good happening in a situation. Please with all things being well and good, try and look at the other side of the coin. Not all things are as they seem. Try and believe that there is still some good in this world and once you believe it you will see it.
Stop downing yourself. You are not the first person to go through that bump in the road. I believe I am as organised as it gets.A while back I had drafted a perfect plan for myself. Education, career and relationship wise. All of a sudden of late everything seems to be going into utter dis-array. At first when I noticed it, I began to hyper-ventilate, then I began to crash like a computer system. Then thankfully God restored my prayer routine/mode and everything began to seem a little bit brighter. It became much better when I began to speak to myself and encourage myself. I usually say this: I reject depression, inferiority complex and self pity. I uproot sorrow and heaviness now in the name of Jesus. I accept congratulations and reject sorry for my day and my life. There is sooooo much power in the tongue it is unbelievable. And in saying it you have to believe it. Its not going to be if you only say it. Speak it into existence by believing it already exists. That's why Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
These are just a few things I can right down at the moment. Work with it and let me know how it works. I believe by God's grace everything which occurs to push you to your OUTCOME will be a stepping stone to propel you to your destiny and would be a journey that will draw you closer to Him who knows all and permits all.
Keep holding on to his word
Yours sincerely
Patience Virtue.
As Christians, we are taught and led by the spirit to leave everything to God and also involve Him in our plans. This is ultimately true as my motto in life is: Let Go and Let God as really there is nothing much more we can really do than that which we have already tried to do. Also how we react to this circumstances and situations thrown to us by life's winds which alters things in our lives is very important. As a daughter/Son of zion, your attitude, behaviour and reaction to such situations are being watched by all. So how then are we to carry ourselves into the OUTCOMES which are to propel us to our pre-destined positions in this life? Here are a few tips the holy spirit laid on my heart a few moments ago.
1. Learn to love yourself the way you and at the point you are at:
This is the problem a lot of us are facing at this present time. The high to always want to be at a stage where our other peers are at can hinder or distort the course our OUTCOMES are supposed to take. Just because one person has walked a thousand miles and you have walked five hundred does not make you a lesser person. The bible says: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. [Ecclesiastes 9:11] . I can't begin to count how many times I recite this verse in a day. I have felt confused and very much upset at times when I feel I deserve something and it has been handed over to another who I know did not go through half of what I went through. This verse was laid on my spirit and has taught me that each and everyone is running a different race: hence the race not being for the swift. It is how well you run your race that matters not how fast.
2. Attitude:
Your attitude speaks before you and says a lot about you. Please darlings lay aside the jealousy, envy and hate. It doesn't look good on a child of the kingdom or anyone for that matter. Stop holding on to grudges and letting them rule you. Have a forgiving spirit. Its not easy to forgive not to talk of forgetting. I have currently gone through a phase whereby I feel that holding on to certain hurts are not worth it. I tell myself, no matter how painful or upsetting the situation may be, that there was a reason for God allowing the hurt to happen. It sounds a bit out of place but it has totally worked for me. Its not easy to release grudges but the thing folks fail to realise about grudges is that it eats into you and hinders you from receiving pure happiness you are entitled to. I mean who doesn't want to be happy. I'll rather let you go than allow you still ruin my happiness. I mean its like loosing both ways which is extremely unnecessary. Let your attitude speak well for you and you will see it makes a whole lot of difference having an enchanting and acceptable attitude while journeying into your OUTCOME.
3. Pray:
I can not over-emphasise this enough. I have currently gone through a serious prayer rejuvenation that it feels as if when I don't pray I'm not complete. How do I explain this? It feels like when you are in love and the other party does not share the same sentiments any more and you feel like a part of you has been cut off, that's how I feel when I don't pray. The wonderful thing about prayer is the peace it brings. I am amazed as to how quickly this peace comes. When I have a problem the first thing I say sub-consciously is 'Holy Spirit, Help me!'. Its as simple as that and I feel a sudden re-assurance that I am not alone. Phillipians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.. This verse is absolutely powerful and so true. If Christ has made such an offer why not make the most of it. I'm tired of hearing people complain about one thing or the other and when I ask 'have you prayed?' silence takes the order of the day. Trust me sometimes it is hard to pray especially if the pain is so much that it seems prayer is not enough. I have recently realised that that is a lie of the devil. There is nothing prayer can not solve. You may not get an answer immediately, or the answer you want but an answer will come all the same. So in getting to that OUTCOME I encourage you to pray.
4. Speak words of life and strength into your life: BE POSITIVE:
I can understand that sometimes being positive is hard. I used to be formally known as the QUEEN LADY OF PESSIMISM but I thank God that I am being delivered from it all. The problem with negativity is that it makes you one sided and this can be very frustrating and I mean very very frustrating. You do not give a chance to see the other side of things which is truly a better side of things. You lock yourself up in a mental battle as if to obliterate any manner of good happening in a situation. Please with all things being well and good, try and look at the other side of the coin. Not all things are as they seem. Try and believe that there is still some good in this world and once you believe it you will see it.
Stop downing yourself. You are not the first person to go through that bump in the road. I believe I am as organised as it gets.A while back I had drafted a perfect plan for myself. Education, career and relationship wise. All of a sudden of late everything seems to be going into utter dis-array. At first when I noticed it, I began to hyper-ventilate, then I began to crash like a computer system. Then thankfully God restored my prayer routine/mode and everything began to seem a little bit brighter. It became much better when I began to speak to myself and encourage myself. I usually say this: I reject depression, inferiority complex and self pity. I uproot sorrow and heaviness now in the name of Jesus. I accept congratulations and reject sorry for my day and my life. There is sooooo much power in the tongue it is unbelievable. And in saying it you have to believe it. Its not going to be if you only say it. Speak it into existence by believing it already exists. That's why Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
These are just a few things I can right down at the moment. Work with it and let me know how it works. I believe by God's grace everything which occurs to push you to your OUTCOME will be a stepping stone to propel you to your destiny and would be a journey that will draw you closer to Him who knows all and permits all.
Keep holding on to his word
Yours sincerely
Patience Virtue.
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Friendship!!!!
Apologies for being absent for a while.....
Academic work took the better part of my time....
However in that time, I thank God for using little happenings to intimate me on issues which occur in our everyday life and how that later on affects us. Today's topic will be centred on friendship.
Friendship is the cooperative and supportive relationship between two or more people. In this sense, the term connotes a relationship which involves mutual knowledge, esteem, affection, and respect along with a degree of rendering service to friends in times of need or crisis....
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendship)
I have had friends...trust me I'm a friend person...
However of late I have looked around and wondered whether the people I called friends are actually friends or just mere acquaintances. There is a huge difference. An acquaintance is someone you happen to know on a formal basis. The casual hello how are you person. Work colleagues, school colleagues and the likes.
However a friend is different. A friend is closer than an acquaintance. A friend is someone you can be real with and absolutely feel free with. I need you to take time and think about people in your life who you consider friends. Then create a mental sieve and separate who you can actually call a friend and who you would take as an acquaintance. Trust me if you have more than ten people on your friends list...you are one extremely lucky and good person. If you don't have up to ten friends under your friends list then don't worry it doesn't mean you are not a good person.
The essence of such a mental separation is to establish the people you can really hold on to in times when you need a helping hand or you want to let yourself go. However in order to have friends you have to be a friend. I have found that the book of proverbs gives a whole lot on the topic of friendship and these attributes will be discussed here. Remember Jesus Christ called the twelve His friends however one still betrayed Him. This did not mean that Jesus was not a friend it meant Judas was not a friend. We have been told in John 15 v 13 that greater love had no man than this that Christ laid down His life for His friends: now I know in this day and age it may be a bit extreme to lay your life down for someone else but can realistically can you think of someone or a category of people who you will be willing to lay down your life for: the first names that pop into your head are those you consider friends...
Being a friend is not easy. Like the parties to a male female relationship it is a full time job. You may laugh but it's true. Understanding is the first thing. Parties to a friendship have to understand each other. There is no basis to any friendship be it in the relationship aspect or not without the parties understanding each other...To me what's the point.
Communication: This is very essential. What people say to each other may easily be mis-interpreted.This is the main reason why relationships are broken because people fail to communicate effectively. A simply explanation solves a lot of issues. Proverbs 15 v 1: A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger. If something is said and needs further explanation the receiver friend ought not to jump into a conclusive notion that it should be interpreted in the wrong way. The giver friend should also try to give their friend the information in such a manner as not to impute ideas into the others head. And if there's strife...Please and Please let peace reign. Try not to cause anything that will bring more strife or throw more salt on the injury.
Patience/Perseverance: This is my ultimate motto for this year and beyond to be patient. I do not in anyway want to hurt anybody and hinder my blessing from coming down from heaven. So if a friend says something to me that hurts me I choose not to react immediately and try not to take it too close to heart. I activate my patience gear on and relax. Then later in a more cheerful mood and not governed by the emotions of what I felt when the word was spoken I gently tell my friend how I felt and why I didn't take what was said as appropriate. This has helped a lot as most times we react to quickly to what has been said and don't get a chance to think of what has been said. This is what causes the issues/brawl to go on for longer.
Also when you have friends you know their strengths and abilities. For me I have a friend who when she gives advice she doesn't know how to give it in a way whereby she is not harsh. I mean that's her nature and in as much as I want her to be more understanding in giving criticisms I leave her to do as she is because that's what makes her her and I love her as that. Just because I am not that way doesn't mean her way is not right. For example, I was going through a trying period a few weeks ago and all she could say was that she had noticed I had been moody and that I shouldn't be and that I should know that sometimes she too goes through things...blah blah blah...
When she finished...I wanted to speak because I felt this is someone who should understand me for me. I am not her and I believe she shouldn't judge me on the basis of how she handles things. However the Holy Spirit laid it on my heart not to speak. I didn't and I let it go. Sincerely I think she was expecting a reply from me but I never gave it. This is what came to my mind: She does not know what I am going through so I shouldn't judge her for that. And from there I moved on. You know your friends so try to handle and manage their idiosyncrasies. Remember being patient and silent does not make you weak, it shows how strong you are to handle a situation.
Forgive and let go: Please just forgive and let go and let peace reign. its had but remember that Proverbs 10 v 12 says Love covers all wrongs and if you have a friend you ought to love them. Please half of the times when we hold on go little squabbles we can be enjoying the finer things of life...So please Let go and if it hurts talk to your friend after exercising patience and if your friend is truly your friend they would understand and share your sentiments. If not please leave it to God to be the one to sort it out....
People always remember Proverbs 18 v 24: A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Yes go to Him who knows all for everything and please be a friend....
Love you all and it sure feels good to be back
Yours Truly
Patience Virtue
Academic work took the better part of my time....
However in that time, I thank God for using little happenings to intimate me on issues which occur in our everyday life and how that later on affects us. Today's topic will be centred on friendship.
Friendship is the cooperative and supportive relationship between two or more people. In this sense, the term connotes a relationship which involves mutual knowledge, esteem, affection, and respect along with a degree of rendering service to friends in times of need or crisis....
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendship)
I have had friends...trust me I'm a friend person...
However of late I have looked around and wondered whether the people I called friends are actually friends or just mere acquaintances. There is a huge difference. An acquaintance is someone you happen to know on a formal basis. The casual hello how are you person. Work colleagues, school colleagues and the likes.
However a friend is different. A friend is closer than an acquaintance. A friend is someone you can be real with and absolutely feel free with. I need you to take time and think about people in your life who you consider friends. Then create a mental sieve and separate who you can actually call a friend and who you would take as an acquaintance. Trust me if you have more than ten people on your friends list...you are one extremely lucky and good person. If you don't have up to ten friends under your friends list then don't worry it doesn't mean you are not a good person.
The essence of such a mental separation is to establish the people you can really hold on to in times when you need a helping hand or you want to let yourself go. However in order to have friends you have to be a friend. I have found that the book of proverbs gives a whole lot on the topic of friendship and these attributes will be discussed here. Remember Jesus Christ called the twelve His friends however one still betrayed Him. This did not mean that Jesus was not a friend it meant Judas was not a friend. We have been told in John 15 v 13 that greater love had no man than this that Christ laid down His life for His friends: now I know in this day and age it may be a bit extreme to lay your life down for someone else but can realistically can you think of someone or a category of people who you will be willing to lay down your life for: the first names that pop into your head are those you consider friends...
Being a friend is not easy. Like the parties to a male female relationship it is a full time job. You may laugh but it's true. Understanding is the first thing. Parties to a friendship have to understand each other. There is no basis to any friendship be it in the relationship aspect or not without the parties understanding each other...To me what's the point.
Communication: This is very essential. What people say to each other may easily be mis-interpreted.This is the main reason why relationships are broken because people fail to communicate effectively. A simply explanation solves a lot of issues. Proverbs 15 v 1: A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger. If something is said and needs further explanation the receiver friend ought not to jump into a conclusive notion that it should be interpreted in the wrong way. The giver friend should also try to give their friend the information in such a manner as not to impute ideas into the others head. And if there's strife...Please and Please let peace reign. Try not to cause anything that will bring more strife or throw more salt on the injury.
Patience/Perseverance: This is my ultimate motto for this year and beyond to be patient. I do not in anyway want to hurt anybody and hinder my blessing from coming down from heaven. So if a friend says something to me that hurts me I choose not to react immediately and try not to take it too close to heart. I activate my patience gear on and relax. Then later in a more cheerful mood and not governed by the emotions of what I felt when the word was spoken I gently tell my friend how I felt and why I didn't take what was said as appropriate. This has helped a lot as most times we react to quickly to what has been said and don't get a chance to think of what has been said. This is what causes the issues/brawl to go on for longer.
Also when you have friends you know their strengths and abilities. For me I have a friend who when she gives advice she doesn't know how to give it in a way whereby she is not harsh. I mean that's her nature and in as much as I want her to be more understanding in giving criticisms I leave her to do as she is because that's what makes her her and I love her as that. Just because I am not that way doesn't mean her way is not right. For example, I was going through a trying period a few weeks ago and all she could say was that she had noticed I had been moody and that I shouldn't be and that I should know that sometimes she too goes through things...blah blah blah...
When she finished...I wanted to speak because I felt this is someone who should understand me for me. I am not her and I believe she shouldn't judge me on the basis of how she handles things. However the Holy Spirit laid it on my heart not to speak. I didn't and I let it go. Sincerely I think she was expecting a reply from me but I never gave it. This is what came to my mind: She does not know what I am going through so I shouldn't judge her for that. And from there I moved on. You know your friends so try to handle and manage their idiosyncrasies. Remember being patient and silent does not make you weak, it shows how strong you are to handle a situation.
Forgive and let go: Please just forgive and let go and let peace reign. its had but remember that Proverbs 10 v 12 says Love covers all wrongs and if you have a friend you ought to love them. Please half of the times when we hold on go little squabbles we can be enjoying the finer things of life...So please Let go and if it hurts talk to your friend after exercising patience and if your friend is truly your friend they would understand and share your sentiments. If not please leave it to God to be the one to sort it out....
People always remember Proverbs 18 v 24: A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Yes go to Him who knows all for everything and please be a friend....
Love you all and it sure feels good to be back
Yours Truly
Patience Virtue
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