Say Hello...

I've been thinking a lot about Moses lately. The guy had an interesting life, to say the least.

The funny thing is that if you read about Moses' adventures in the Bible, he wasn't always such a pleasant or willing chap. I get the feeling that he was a bit of a short-tempered grouch, and prone to go off on his own little tangents.
When raised up as one of the most powerful men in Egypt, He got mad with someone and killed an Egyptian.
When God instructed him to simply touch the rock in the desert with his staff, he got mad with someone and hit the rock.
When he came off the mountain from a meeting with God, he got mad with someone and smashed God's freshly-inscribed commandments onto the ground.
He was always getting mad with someone and then doing something stupid in his anger. 

Anyways, it's an absolute wonder that God managed to reign in this wild man, and do something useful with him. Clearly it wasn't Moses' own eloquence and bravado that made him the great man that we know in history......?

No. I believe it was one thing.

Relationship.

I am fascinated by the relational encounters that Moses had with God, in a time where relationship with the Great Yahweh was not something someone sought after. In fact, the Israelites feared God,which is why they chose to have a mediator, instead of hearing God's voice themselves...... Moses was that mediator. (Exodus 20 vs 18-19) 
And I think to myself, why on earth would a person choose to put anything or anyone between themselves and God...? Remember, this was before the Ark of the Covenant, and before the Tabernacle, which are two concepts that only resulted after Moses' ascent up Mount Sinai. They still had the choice of hearing that Almighty Voice for themselves.


Moses must have had a terrifying time of things. Burning bushes. Blinding light while being wedged into a rock. Storms on a mountaintop. And yet, because of his relationship with God, Moses knew His Gentleness enough to be able to encourage the Israelites, "Do not be afraid...." (Ex. 20 vs 20)


I'm just rambling really, I just love the trusting relationship that this simple human being had with a Big, Almighty, Booming-voice, Glorious God.... I was listening to a special song this morning, and what I was really pondering over was the fact that Moses was instructed to remove his sandals at the burning bush, because he was standing on holy ground. And I know that it's generally accepted that removing one's shoes on supposedly holy ground is meant to be a sign of reverence or respect, even fear. But what if....... what if.........


What if God just wanted Moses to take his sandals off, and... connect. To be intimate with God Almighty. To touch the ground that Yahweh Himself is touching. What if it had nothing to do with reverence, and everything to do with relationship.......? 


Oh, I'd like to think so. I really would. In fact, I think I do.......


Jonathan David Helser sings...... 


"I've seen I Am,
And now I know I am loved......"

Listen to the rest of these powerful words HERE. And while you do, I hope you will allow yourself to dream, Fellow Inhabitant of this Planet: Dream that despite yourself, there is a Big, Almighty, Booming-voice, Glorious God who wants to meet...... with you.

Why don't you turn around....... Take your shoes off. Say hello.

Lighting the Fire

One recent Friday night, I went out with a group of friends for a "ladies night out".Those who know me well will know that I'm not a late-night party girl. I can count on one hand the number of times I've been clubbing, and for the most part, I'd rather be at home, curled up next to my husband reading a book or writing a blog. Nevertheless, ladies night was most enjoyable, and we had fun. 

On the Saturday morning after Ladies Night, having downed a strong cup of coffee, I had the pleasure of meeting up with someone to discuss a combination of future plans: a concoction of entrepreneurship, ministry, charities, initiatives, business... We talked for hours about what seemed like endless opportunities to reach the world, and I was astounded by the ideas and inspirations that was just pouring out of this person. I couldn’t help but walk away from this meeting with my head swimming in renewed passion for the dreams that God places in His childrens’ hearts, and had to spend that Sunday recovering from it all. And so it was, that I was struck by the enormous contrast between that Friday night and that Saturday.

Friday night was a night of self-indulgence, self-satisfaction, making ourselves feel happy with dancing and laughter. This self-indulgence was... well, just fun. But it left no lasting impression on my soul, no desire to change the world, and it rendered me more than a little bit tired the next day.

Now, I’m not saying that there's no time in life for fun – there definitely should be. But Saturday… Wow, Saturday lit a fire in my soul. I felt so uplifted, inspired, and hungry for more of that. Hungry to spend more time in the presence of people who share this love, this passion, this desperate desire to seek God and His Kingdom.  I felt as though I had been to the most anointed fellowship service, the kind that leaves a permanent mark on your heart. It made me feel alive.

What is this blaze inside me, that when it’s fueled, it threatens to all but consume me?

A fire for the lost.

For the broken and desperate.

For the sick.

And a fire for even those who seem to have it all together, yet deep down, they too wrestle with their own inner demons of discouragement and weariness.

How can I possibly live my life and ignore this burning?

  

Jeremiah 20:9 

But if I say, “I will not mention his word, or speak anymore in his name,” His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

My pastor recently shared the parable that Jesus tells of 10 virgins with oil lamps. (Matthew 25). In those days, the virgins were like the "bridesmaids". They were to help the bride prepare herself for marriage, and would also watch for the Groom's arrival. In this parable, it is said that the Groom was "a long time in coming" - he was delayed. And so the virgins lit their lamps, and waited for him. 

Inevitably, they fell asleep, and in verse 7, when a cry rang out that the Groom was nearby, we are told that "all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps." 

There is so much more that can be said from this parable, but in essence, I feel like I am waking up from a deep slumber. I'm a bit dazed and confused. I don't really know where the Groom is coming from, or where He wants me to be. I only know that He is coming for His Bride - and He wants me to help prepare Her for Him. What a humbling realization. In my heart, I am searching for kindred spirits who are also awakening to the Groom's call on their lives, people like me who long to serve Him. 

That Saturday that I spent in the presence of a fellow visionary, was like a voice ringing in my soul: He is coming! I must rub the sleep from my eyes, and light my lamp. Look for Him, seek His face, and receive His guidance. I don't know where we are going, and if I must be honest, that's an intimidating thought. 

But I have decided to go with Him. 

Will you? Will you allow the flame of God's love for His bride to ignite your insides, and burn so bright and so hot that you can't sleep anymore? 

I thought it fit to share this rocking-awesome track that kinda hit me between the eyes the other day. The words are so fitting, from start to finish, but one part really stands out: 

Come, spark the parts in me that all but died,

Jumpstart my heart, and wake the sleeper inside.

And here is the song for all you rockers out there, hope it inspires you. It's also a seriously awesome video, Fellow Inhabitants...

Ignition - by tobyMac

This article, and many others like it, can be found on the Above The Flame Blog page or Facebook page. Be Blessed. x

Steve Turner (who may or may not have been stoned) #3

Yes.
It is time for another moment of literary genius.
We are due for another Steve Turner gem.
Overdue, in fact.

SO. Here is a little something for a glorious Sunday like today...


Untitled - by Steve Turner

We say there is no God
   (quite easily)
when amongst the curving
steel and glass of our own
   proud creations.

They will not argue.

Once we were told of a
   heaven
but the last time we strained
   to look up
we could see only skyscrapers
shaking their heads
   and smiling no.

The pavement is reality.

We say there is no God
   (quite easily)
when walking back through
Man's concreted achievements
but on reaching the park
our attention is distracted
by anthems of birds coming
from the greenery.
We find ourselves shouting
a little louder now because
   of the rushing streams.
Our voices are rained upon by
   the falling of leaves.

We should not take our arguments
   for walks like this.
The park has absolutely no manners.


Peace out, Fellow Inhabitants of this Planet; may your ears be filled with the sounds of birds and falling leaves.

The Glass Half Full: Winter

These are my Winter pajamas...

I'm sharing this with you because I'm a glass-half-full kinda girl. (Most times.) We are now in July, more-or-less the heart of South African Winter. I despise the cold. Truly. But there are some things that I can bring myself to love about Winter. 

My pajamas, for one. Here, have a closer look - I took this so you could see just how soft they are...

Every night, I pull these out from under my pillow, I scrunch them up into my fists, and bury my face in them. It's like Winter therapy. 

There is always something to be grateful for. Always!

Stay warm Fellow Inhabitants! xxx