You are NOT your own.

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.  The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.   “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.  After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.  So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.  He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.   “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!  I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your ...

And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “ My son, do not make light of the Lordʼs discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,  because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”   Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for...

Continuing the discussion on identity, an important aspect is knowing why I exist? Most of us I am sure know about goal setting, that they need to measurable and realistic in terms of time frames etc. However what if your goals don't match your purpose, then the act of achieving those goals becomes empty and meaninglessness. There is a huge difference in knowing what your purpose is and setting goals. To know who I am and why do I exist gives us meaningful reasons and helps us set goals that help us achieve our purpose, it's far deeper and more fulfilling. For a lot more on the subject I suggest reading "The Man in The Mirror " by Patrick Morley. So as promised this is what I have recorded as my Life Purpose Statement . Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. "Westminster Shorter Catechism" Identity My identity is wrapped in "Who" I am and not in "What" I do. I am first a Son in my father's h...

Who am I? As per previous post I am talking about identity, who am I?  If we understand who God is, in whom my identity is wrapped, then I get a picture of who I am.  It is this definition that counts the most, who does God say I am. Then the labels and definitions of others have less impact. I am his beloved, he knows me by name and has a plan for me, before I was even born. A child, son of God, an heir of his inheritance and promises. Adopted into his family.  A living stone, part of his temple, placed in where he wants me. A member of the body of Christ, with unique gifts, talent, calling and purpose. A warrior soldier in Christ's army, equipped with all I need for life and godliness. I obey and follow his orders, I endure hardship and discipline my body and life. An ambassador of the Kingdom of God, I represent him and advance the Kingdom wherever I go. I am part of the bride of Christ, pure, without spot or blemish, loved, washed and cared for by Jesus. ...

I have been speaking about identity and knowing God in some of my recent posts. I will still share my Life purpose statement but in it I state that my real identity in found in God and not what I do or don't do for that matter, so to help me understand who I am in him, I have listed some of the things that I see and understand via scripture who Jesus is; as revealed to me. I am sure although the list is long it's not exhaustive and falls short of describing God, however it is useful to remind myself when I may feel a bit lost. The Alpha and Omega The beginning and the end The First and the Last The name above ALL names The living word become flesh God with us Emanuel The light of the world Creator of heaven and earth The exact representation of the fullness of the God head The express image of the father Fully God and Fully man My high priest, who knows and understands my weakness, failings, suffering and yet was without sin The ...

Oh to Know God, and to be known by HIM. without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. He brews 11:6 NIV fixing our eyes on Jesus, the (author) pioneer and perfecter of (our) faith.... Hebrews 12:2 NIV Can we know God?   Well the scriptures suggest we can, He is present all over, as he is omnipresent, but we don't know it or rather unaware.  He desires to know us and reveal himself to us, and thereby manifest himself to us. That is we are then aware of his presence, we can be tuned into his presence, and persue him.  As we have five sences to interact with the material world, so we have spiritual sences to taste and see God is good, to hear what the Spirit says, to feel the warmth of his breath on our face, or the wind of the Spirit taking us in a particular direction. (ruach) Definition of spirit/ruach:“The basic meaning of ruach is both 'wind' or 'breath . To h...

" Biblical brokenness is not an identity but a posture" Nathan Gernetzky from his book God, Boy, Ocean. This so echoes in my heart, it's only when you recognise your failings, sinfulness, and brokenness and the justice that should have been your portion of your life, and the absolute grace and mercy that Jesus worked for you on the cross, according to the requirement of the law you were doomed, but God.... Nathan goes on to say " This kind of brokenness is about us learning to lean into God and refusing to give into self pity. Its the daily clinging to God's steadfast never give up love. It's the posture of dependency and knowing your own limitations. Its the feasting on Gods table of truth and the expectant hope that all things would be made new. Brokenness is the posture of living for the audience of one". I strongly recommend you get the book, its real, authentic and emotional, but also practical. We should live for the audience of one, but we are no...

Two thing's I know...... 1) I have a name. 2) I am not a plan B Not only do I have a name, but a purpose. God knows me before the foundation of the the earth, and in the secret place within my mother's womb, he formed me and gave me a purpose, and calls me by name, gave me a time and geographic area to be born and live out his plans and purpose for my life. Despite the fact that my life turned out very different from what I may have hoped and expected, its still Gods plan A, not plan B. Just as the cross was not Eden's Plan B, it was always Gods plan A; he was not surprised by the turn of event's. So it is with my life, God knew my failings, weaknesses and is not disappointed when I fall. The trick is to keep pressing into God and to cooperate with him in transforming us into his image.  As long as I don't harden my heart and remain humble and teachable before him, He will finish off the works he started in me.

This has not been shared or published publicly, it was however shared with my close friends, team mates and eldership team, but I sence in God  to release it now This is part of my personal story and testimony, and the current Journey I am on. It was a camp I attended as part of the Journey South Africa Intensive week.   They are a discipleship program that I am a small part of in team with others.  Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. There he came to a cave, where...

You can run but you can't hide.    Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you're there! If I go underground, you're there! If I flew on morning's wings to the far western horizon, You'd find me in a minute— you're already there waiting! Then I said to myself, "Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I'm immersed in the light!" It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you. 13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my ...

A matter of perspective What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?  7:24 NIV We saw the Nephilim there.....We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” Numbers 13:33 NIV Perspective is powerful! Our response to situations is often determined by our perspective. The 10 spies perceived themselves as incapable of defeating the tribes and automatically assumed and believed the lie that the other nations also saw them as grasshoppers. When in reality the nation's were melting in fear of Israel because of God. Our circumstances don't always follow a logical progression, in ourselves we may not possess the abilities to fulfil a task, that God has given us, or in our own strength there is no way we can overcome a temptation that has a stronghold over us, but by his Spirit we can resist and experience victory. Sometimes it may feel that we have no idea what to do in a certain situation, but with his guidance and...

I have seen many posts about the fact that after this crisis is over, that as humans we have the opportunity to come into a new, fresh clean world, and hopefully as humans be more sensitive, caring, loving, and learn great lessons about what is more important in life etc. However great as these aspirations are, I tend to think they are unrealistic. Given the condition of the human heart. It is full of wickedness, greed, strife and not surrendered, and still only looks after number One, and doing our own thing. All of this will stick around, unless there is a change of heart, and this can only take please if God moves, the hearts of men and brings revival.  In order for this to happen, His body, bride, church, or army needs to rise and take its place.  Enter the scene of Ezekiel 37: 1-14  .....God asks the question can these dead bones live?  The response Only God knows...The instruction is to prophecy to the dead bones, life, breath etc. If this was ever required, it...

You are NOT your own Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19‭-‬20 NIV This has to be one of the most sobering of scripture verses, to any of us thinking that we can do, or go or say as we please. In the context Paul is specifically referring  to sexual sin, but I think it can apply to many different situations in life. Think of how James cautions us not to brag about where or what we will do, but rather defer it to If Gods wills. Many may then think this is too hard to bear, it's restrictive and confinement, but the word tells us that where our heart (where we spend the most time and resources) is there our Treasure is.  So do you think that God would apply this to Himself as well? I certainly do, so it stands to reason that God who has invested so much of Himself in us, that he would be there also, ...