I was reading this story earlier to day and it got me thinking...

Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev used to tell of a time when there was a wave of petty theft in the Soviet Union. To curtail this, the authorities put guards up around the factories.

At a timber-works in Leningrad, one guard knew the workers in the factory very well. The first evening, out came Pyotr Petrovich with a wheelbarrow containing a great bulky sack with a suspicious-looking object inside. "All right, Petrovich," said the guard, "What have you got there?" "Oh, just sawdust and shavings," Petrovich replied. "Come on," the guard said, "I wasn’t born yesterday. Tip it out."

The worker tipped and nothing came out but sawdust and shavings. So he was allowed to put it all back again and go home. When the same thing happened every night of the week the guard became frustrated. Finally, his curiosity overcame his frustration. "Petrovich," he said, "I know you. Tell me what you’re smuggling out of here, and I’ll let you go."

"Wheelbarrows, my friend, " said Petrovich, "wheelbarrows."

I'm easily distracted. Any and anything can distract me from something I'm doing and even more so when I'm doing something that is boring or I have no interest in doing. I think that, that could be true to many people.  The type of distractions I was thinking about were ones that distract me from God. 

The devil LOVES to distract us from God. He likes to interrupt when we're having a quiet time, prayer or talking to a friend.  He'll come along and cause you to think about other things or change our mood.  Our phone may ring or beep, someone will need our attention etc and then our prayer time is over.  What happens most often in the evenings is that I'll be tired, so I say... "I'll sleep now and have a quiet time tomorrow." That never happens, because I always end up doing other things.  If I pray at night now, I force myself to push through the tiredness. 

Other ways that the devil distracts me from doing what God wants is by making me feel like crap. I'll start feeling insecure, stupid and like a failure when it comes to doing things like leading Gap or talking to people.  I have started to realise that this is just the devil trying to get me to chicken out from what God wants me to and preventing Gods work from getting done.

Sometimes I just feel bored with praying, or sitting still and listening to God. This is when my mind wonders the most and I start thinking of the most RANDOMEST stuff ever.

2 Corinthians 2:11 says Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his (Satan's) devices. 

I think it's important that we know how the devil tries to distract us so that we can recognise the distractions and then ignore him. I also think that it's important that we learn to recognise that the devil doesn't want us to move forward with God and will do anything to distract us.  He even does it in small ways so that we don't realise that it's him. It's like the guy in the story stealing wheelbarrows, he distracted the guard and only when it was a little bit too late did he realise.  We also generally only realise when it's too late that something is missing and that we've been distracted.  BUT the most awesome thing about God is he'll still be there trying to get our attention.  

Things you shouldn't do when you're feeling sick

This morning I woke up and I was feeling STAX better.... or so I thought until I ate my breakfast.  My stomach decided to reject the notion of real food and start cramping. Other then the insanely sore stomach, I was really feeling better, only my lower back was still sore and NOT my whole body and I had a slight headache and ear ache.

I thought it would be okay to attempt to concur the world today.... I got up showered and decided to clean my bedroom.  Now that is a challenge all in itself even when I'm well, so after some dusting and vacuuming I felt rather ill and wanted to vomit. I gave that notion up and climbed back into bed for a 2 hour nap.  When I woke up I was feeling better and because I'm stubborn and DON'T learn from previous mistakes I decided to take the dog to the vet.

WHAT A MISTAKE!!!

Champ is a big and strong Labrador and he doesn't ALWAYS listen. Well... mostly never listens and to top it off he wants to say hello to EVERY single dog he sees, whether they're vicious or not.  Taking him to the vet can be SUPER stressful.  After about 30 minutes of waiting and trying to control him, I gave in and got my mom to go and buy a box of dog biscuits so I could bribe him to sit still and it worked.

After waiting for like forever, (about 2 hours), I had started to feel uber sick again and all I wanted to go  home when they eventually called Champ to see the vet.  They shaved him and told us that the absis had cleared up so all we have to do wash it with savlon and keep it clean.

After the vet episode I came home and got back into bed.  I have learnt that when you don't feel well... bed is the place to stay and that you shouldn't try to conquer the world when you start feeling better.  That results in you feeling yucky again!

xKx

Faith

I watched "Faith Like Potato's" today.  I read the book a while ago and the movie has been sitting on my desk for a while, so after the longest sleep ever, I decided to watch the movie.  I cried throughout the WHOLE movie. I blame my emotional state on the fact that I'm sick and that my whole body hurts.

Angus Buchan says, "The conditon for a miracle is difficulty, for a great miracle - impossibility" This statement is soooooo true. He goes out on a whim and plants potatoes becasue he believes that God told him to plant them.  The ground is dry, they're living in a dought and everyone thinks that he's a bit crazy.  At the end of the season and it's time to dig up the potoatos they are completely blown away buy the size and amount of potoatos.  God performed a great miracle that day - everything was against a great cropof potatos but God did it and they had an abunant crop.

So..... this got me thinking about faith and how strong my faith is, especially in the area of becoming a full time missionary.  I totatally understand that being a missionary is a full time thing where ever you - we are called to shine out light to everyone.  The thing I've been struggling with over the past few weeks, is wondeing if I'll ever get to be a full time missionary.  I had to lay the whole Africa thing down at Gods feet and walk away from it.  It's tempting to go back and pick it up and be like, "I'm going to be a missionary in Africa" but that's not for me to say. God's going to send me... well Dave and I where he wants to send us. For now it's Cape Town, so I need to be here and not wishing to be in Africa. Lately I've been feeling that I don;t have enough faith to believe that God's still calling me to be a missionary... but after a few moments of talking to my self firmly today, I realised I wouldn't have the heart I have if God wasn't calling me to this.  I also reminded myself that God is still growing me and preparing me for full time missionary work. He's not done yet, even though it doesn't feel like he's doing anything - he is.

It's kind of like the pototos.  God was growing them, but Angus couldn't see them or what was going on under the ground. He had to have faith in God and that he would come through.  And God did, becasue he is faithful - EVEN when we doubt.  At the moment, it feels like I'm in the dark about the future and being a missionary. It also feels like it's an impossiblility, but God is faithful and he's working, he's also the God of the impossible. I just need to refocus and trust that he does in fact have a plan and purpose for me.

xKx

Sold

Today I sold my car... It was quiet a process but I did it.

For the last month or so I started praying about my car and if I should sell Chip. About two weeks ago while I was driving to Hout Bay, I decide to use the time to pray.  I was praying about selling my car and God was like, "Sell it".  I immediately started thinking about how I can't sell my car because I need it.  I then said to God, "ok, I'll sell Chip in two weeks because I need it to get to Gap and cell group. In two weeks time it'll be holidays and I'll be able to be carless for a week or so and be able to look for a car." 

So... Two weeks later I posted an advert on Gumtree and on Junkmail.  I had about 5people call me and ask to come and see the car.  Three people wanted to come see it on Friday and two on Saturday.  It rained on Friday and no one came, I was like that's okay. God's got this and he knows who will buy it.

This morning I had a mini freak out when I got up and thought, "I don't want to sell my car" but then I told myself to stop thinking like that. I then had a second HUGE freak out when I saw Dave about how it's stressful selling my car and having to buy a new one and how I don't know how to do this or what to buy. Dave was super awesome with how he handled my tears and fears about selling my car and buying a new one. 

At 3pm the first person came and viewed my car. He was someone who was a car inspector from a car roadworthy centre. He checked the WHOLE car out and made an offer of R14 000.00 cash on the spot.  I told him that I would get back to him because there was someone else coming to look at the car.  20 minutes later the other people arrived and checked the car out from top to bottom.  They looked underneath it, revved the engine like 10 times and then made an offer of R15 000.00 cash on the spot.  I called Dave and spoke to him, the guy spoke to him,my dad spoke to him and then the deed of sale was written up, the money was counted and BOOM Chip was sold and Denzel the new owner drove off with Chip.

I never expected to get as much as R15 000.00 for Chip. I thought I would get less, but I'm amped because R15 000.00 is the exact amount I want for the deposit  I think God knew what He was doing with the sale of Chip.

After the sale had happened, Dave took me to deposit the money.  While I was standing in the queue at the atms I realised that this was the first time that I had done something EXACTLY when God told me to do it.  Normally I drag my feet and take a 100 years to get there. It's a weird feeling... but I like it.  It feels so much better doing something when God tells you to do it, than to drag your feet.

xKx

The more they seek you, the more they find you

This is Tree

This morning I BBMed my bestie, Tree, and asked her to give me a topic to blog about.  She replied with this: "Bird poo. And the chances of 1 person getting pooed on 4 times in 5 years." I laughed like a loon on loon tablets when I read this and though, "Yes! I MUST do this, even if it's just for a laugh" 

So here I am... typing away about how my best friend has been pooped on by birds A LOT!  

InCiDeNt 1

 

The first time it happened, well that I can remember was way back when we were still in school.  I think we were either in grade 11 or matric. I can't really remember the year, anyway....  We were at sectional athletics.  I looked towards the bottom of the stands and I say Tree with her dad. I thought that she was crying, so went down to see what was wrong. When I asked her what was wrong and if everything was okay.  She then told me that a bird had pooed on her and her dad was wiping it off her.  I then burst out laughing. 

InCiDeNt 2

A couple of months later during break at school, a little birdy chose Tree's satchel to poo on. Her bag was among our bags, but her bag was the lucky one the bird chose. When she picked up her bag at the end of break, I think her shirt got a bit dirty.  We all once again laughed. 

InCiDeNt 3

One Sunday night we were all getting into Tree's car.  Terri ran her fingers through her hair and she discovered that a bird had just pooped in her hair.  We found it funny because it happened in the night, when birds are meant to be sleeping not flying around.  I then said to her, "The more they seek you, the more they find you."  I think we all laughed for the whole trip home. 

InCiDeNt 4

Unfortunately I can't remember this incident..... 

Tree's car

InCiDeNt 5
 

This week Sunday we were talking about birds and how they always manage to poo on Terri.  I can't remember why or how we started talking about it, but we were.  Yesterday afternoon Tree send me the following picture, saying "they got me again."

 

 

 

Apparently it's good luck to have a bird poo on you or you're going to receive some good luck. I don't know, but it doesn't seem like Tree has had any luck, becasue the birds still seem to find her and poop on her.  It's rather ranodm and funny as to why she always get's chosen by the birds.

 

xKx

Yahweh Nissi

I'm busy doing a devotional on the different characteristics of God.  This weeks one is Yahweh Niss - The Lord is my Banner.  I never really understood what this meant until this week. 

Back in the day when the Israelites were fighting the Amalekites, Moses went and stood on a hill and raised his arms. When this arms were up the Israelites were winning and when they were down the Israelites were loosing.  When the Israelites had won the battle Moses made and alter and called it Yahweh Nissi - The Lord is my banner. (You can read the whole story in Exodus 17:8-15) 

..... So why did Moses call the alter this and not something else? 

I think these could be some possible reasons WhY.....

When an army goes into battle the banner is always flown at the front the army. It identifies who they are.  When you are being attached you would like to know who is attacking you, the banner does this. The Israelites were Gods chosen people, He represented them and they represented him in the world.  God gave them their identification, just like a banner gives an army their identification. 

The banner always directed where you were going. If the banner carrier went left, you went left.  

During a battle the banner helped the members of the army find their comrades when they get lost or disoriented during the battle.  The banner helps them to stay focused on where to go and it also inspires courage among the army. When they see the banner it helps them to realize that they are not alone and apart of a "team" 

Moses sat on the top of a hill - he was the Israelites banner.  When his hands were up the Israelite army could see him and they were motivated to keep fighting and they were focused on the task. 

SoMe MoRe ThOuGhTs...

Deuteronomy 31:8 says "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  I often pray this, because it's  true. God goes before us where ever we go, whether it's a battle or not. He's our banner. 

As Christians we need to be focused on God, constantly looking to him for direction and motivation.  Just like a banner gives the army direction and motivation, when we look to God we find our direction, realize we're not nearly as lost as we imagine, are able to refocus and get motivated again. 

1 Peter 2:9 says  "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession....."  This describes who we are today, the Israelites were Gods chosen people and he went before them. Jesus made it possible for us to become Gods chosen people.  This is who we are. God has given us our identity. God like a banner gives us our identity. 

This characteristic of God blows my mind, I never thought something as a simple as a banner can have so much "weight" behind it and be so powerful.  I think that it may even be a new favourite of mine. 

 

xKx

IT'S not ALL about ME

Last night the topic at Gap was a servants heart and Teen Church on Sunday was all about how "It's not all about you". It was all about how life is not all about ourselves, but about how Jesus wants us to live a lifestyle that is others focused.  This is very different to how the world paints our lifestyles.  The world says it's all about me, but being a Christian, as I'm discovering lately is living counter culturally. 

 

I said to my kids at Gap last night that I don't want to be one of those people who walk around telling people I'm Christian, I want them to see that I am a Christian by how I live my life. So here's the challenge... how do I live Mathew 7:16 "You can tell what they are by what they do" (CEV)

I think it goes further than my ministry.  It's not in the places I serve, such as Gap, teen Church etc.  I think it comes down to my every day living.  It's my attitude when I do things. It's how I greet people and how I engage with people.  I often joke with my friends that I have a sign on my forehead that says, "freaks welcome" or "talk to me" because I always seem to attract people who want to speak to me. I don't think there's a single day that goes by and someone doesn't say hello to me when I'm walking to work. Often, at least three times a week some random person will start talking to me on the taxi, while I'm walking to work, at lunch or in the lift at work.  I think these moments are important for God to use you to shine Him to these people.  I can either be rude and ignore them or I can engage with them and have a few minutes of chit chat.  What I want to do most days is directly linked to my mood, but I need to remind myself that life is about shining Jesus to people.

I also think we need to be willing to help people even when it's inconvenient.  Someone once said to me that Christians should be the most interruptable people ever. We should welcome interruptions. God interrupts our agendas and plans with His own plans and agendas ALL the time.  When He sends someone our way for a chit chat, or to ask us for help or to talk, we should welcome the distraction and embrace it full on and listen, engage with person or help them. 

After prepping the lesson for Teen Church and for Gap I feel challenged to be more open to people and to just shine Jesus to more people. I also feel challenged to be more of servant and to live less selfishly. 

xKx