Light at the END-of-the-Tunnel?

I had this revelation today early in the morning. It was hounding me and I kept thinking what is the purpose of it all? I am not going through anything particularly hard that this should pop into my mind...

1. Do you believe Jesus Christ is your Lord and Saviour? Yes

2. Have you received the Holy Spirit? Do you believe the Holy Spirit is within you?Yes

Then there is no light at the end of the tunnel because the light is within you! You are the light in the tunnel. In fact....

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 

Matthew 5.14-16

 Sure enough about 9 hours later, I found myself battling a vision I had: not fully understanding how it could possibly come to fruition when things seemed like they were moving sooooo slowly. I spoke to a friend, tried to speak to my sisters, got on a chocolate/sweet-popcorn high but could not shake the feeling off until I prayed. I prayed for this 'one thing' that was on my mind. I expressed my gratitude for 'It'. And returned 'It' to the Lord's hands. Then I 'podcasted' some sermons because faith comes from hearing of the Word right and God knows I needed my faith restored/renewed/increased. Something someone said reminded me of this verse that had come to me in the morning. I am the light even when I am in my circumstance...I need to keep shining while I am in the tunnel. Trudging pitifully along is not an option. Being shaken and stirred should not blow my flame out. Doubt and uncertainty are no replacement for a sound mind! I am in a tunnel and I am the light. When I reach the end, the vision will be fulfilled and I will still be the light. So I have learned that some lessons may not appear relevant early in the morn but the Lord always equips me to fight these mind games way before the battle. 

Miracles come in all packages!

This is a message to my family to keep the faith, faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains...

Sonja Taylor

By Renee Roberson

On October 24, 2007, a miracle baby named Amillia Taylor turned 1 year old in Miami, Fla. The daughter of Sonja and Eddie Taylor, Amillia was born at 21 weeks weighing just a little over 9 ounces, and is the first baby known to survive after a gestation period of fewer than 23 weeks.

The Taylors' story begins with a struggle many couples face when trying to start a family – infertility. They conceived Amillia through in vitro fertilization, and there were complications from the beginning. Sonja Taylor was put on bed rest early on in the pregnancy, and was finally released after about four months. "After about two weeks I got dehydrated and went into premature labor," says Sonja Taylor. "I was put back on bed rest but lost my mucous plug." Taylor and her husband immediately headed to Baptist Children's Hospital in Kendall, Fla. The staff there sent her to get an ultrasound and told her they would have to deliver the baby as soon as possible. But Taylor's maternal instinct kicked in, and deep in her heart, she knew her baby would die if it were delivered at 18 weeks."I put my foot down and said, 'You are not delivering this baby right now,'" Taylor says. Although she was leaking amniotic fluid and was already dilated, Taylor refused to let her doctor deliver the baby. She stayed in the hospital, with her mother and husband keeping a constant vigil over here. When she started spiking a fever almost a week later, the doctors knew they had to act soon. They gave Taylor steroids to help develop the baby's lungs and prepared for an emergency C-section. "I was septic, and my uterus and cervix were both infected," Taylor says. "When they took her out, the whole room gasped. They were shocked because she was so small. She had one eye opened and was looking around."

Amillia Taylor was born weighing 9 ounces and measuring 9 1/2 inches long (about the length of an ink pen). Taylor says the neonatologist on staff didn't know what to do with Amillia because he had never seen a baby so small. She had one nurse assigned just to her.

LiFe SuPPoRT

What does it mean to be on life support-to be dependant on a ventilator to live? My sister's friends daughter is on one such machine. She has severe injuries from a recent fluke accident and keeps needing one operation after another.

'The ultimate goals of life support depend on the specific patient situation. Typically life support is used to sustain life while the underlying injury or illness is being treated or evaluated for prognosis. Life support techniques may also be used indefinitely if the underlying medical condition cannot be corrected but a reasonable quality of life can still be expected'.- Wikipedia

I can't even know what to pray for right now. Healing? Comfort? Strength? Wisdom? Life? I do know that God is a God of many names and He will lend Himself to this occasion as He sees fit. (For it is not my will I am pushing, but Your will to be done in this girl's life.)

#in2010

I WILL NOT BE NAIVE...
to think that this year will be a bed of roses;
to think that my slate will always be spick and span;
to think that everything will flow smoothly in the direction I want them to go;
to believe that people will not die or lie;
to think my pockets will be filled to overflowing with pounds,US dollars, kwacha whatever the currency;
to think that I will not have to fight or struggle to get noticed or to notice what I must;
to thiink that I will not have difficulty focussing, planning and acting;
to think that there will be no betrayal and pain, harshness and cruelty or shame
or to realise that some desires will once again be put under 'pending'...
Lord, I know that this world belongs to the most devious of thieves and he has come that he may steal, kill and destroy and he will woo some people over as he did last year..

But Lord I know, You are faithful and those who seek You with their hearts will find You and live life to the fullest, while HERE on this very earth and BEYOND the grave!
I know You wake me up to new opportunities and chances each day!
I know that as long as You are there, there is a REASON to hope whether we think we are too far gone or the rest of our world thinks that!
Lord I know, that You line the paths we struggle on with sufficient grace and strength so we can persevere in prayer, love, marriage, families, fidelity,and righteousness!
Lord I know, You heal scars, wipe away tears, and comfort all those who call on You Abba Father!
I know that You keep us out of harm's way even when we don't recognise the extent of it!
I know that You know my name and will NEVER forsake me!
I know that You heal and You give rest....

I know what the devil can do, oh I am not naive!
But I also know Who my Father IS!!!

because in 2009..I prayed for the following:
the element of surprise

Lessons from July

In the last few months, I have learnt: (NB:YOU=ME not anybody's toolkit just one i need to remind myself about)

Choose wisely what you pursue because it will determine your character. Choose wisely how you pursue it, that reflects your personality.

Perseverance produces character...Perseverance can just mean continuance in prayer. Battles/wars can be won on your knees.

Falling in love involves a lot of self control and wisdom. I am pretty sure that it is possible to disengage the lust gear before it is too late. if you find you are falling, use WISDOM as your landing gear. You always know better.

God knows you better so He should tell you what to do...

Habits can be broken.

One must desist from insisting that they are entitled to something.

Asking/Requesting produces humility, absolutely refines the character, demanding on the other hand....well

Wrestling and waiting for His blessing, for His hand to open strengthens one's resolve and faith. Its almost silly to give up when you know that He has heard every cry and seen every tear you have shed then to just walk away in hopelessness/defeat is 'like a kick in His teeth'. Why ask God for anything if you do not Expect it? He most certainly answers fervent prayers from earnest/righteous persons.

Why bother pursuing Plan B if you are praying for Plan A? Faith is like putting your eggs in one basket. Then asking God to carry it....His hands are rock steady. What may seem like your everything crashing down could just be Him spring cleaning...

Align your will to God's so you know what to ask for, or pursue or say or enjoy...

By engaging in conversation with Him from the OT through to the NT, He is constantly revealing Himself...His mercy, His humor, His love, His grace, His plan...

He says knock and it will be opened. He knows to give better gifts than our own earthly fathers so Trust Him when you seek Him. Trust Him when You ask Him.

Remember His will is Perfect. Ask for His will to be done. It is a sure thing!

There may be pain/breakups/tremendous soulshaking changes but it is designed in a way that you will rise from the pits and be prosperous. Have faith in your Almighty Father.

Never stop loving or believing that He has begun His work in you and He will as sure as day finish it! Your desire, dreams, ideas are by His design-now if you only let Him use this tapestry for the purpose for which He created it...WOW!

Have hope. Hope is the cord that keeps one moment attached to the next, much like the umbilical cord from a foetus to the life supply (mother). Hope keeps you close to God.

Faith is a reliable "currency". To speak to God, you have to go by faith that He hears you right? By faith we are saved. Faith is a strong belief. Faith sometimes feels like it has its own bloodstream. In the worst conditions, faith allows you to see past them, gives you strength and draws out a path along which you can reach a good place. It is important that your faith be full ALWAYS! Feed it. Don't inflate it when you know you feel like your hanging from a string or its waning. Nourish it with verses, prayers, stories from your past/others' stories. Ask God to add on to it that you may be encouraged in all things...Faith really is the substance of things hoped for! This faith is in the Lord who never fails..like how the USD used to be-a reliable medium of exchange. If you go to God with faith, well, just remember the woman who bled for 12 years. Her faith saved her when she touched Jesus' garment. Faith is a powerful currency.

Fasting focuses your mind on God. It allows you to feel weak in the flesh and feed your appetite spiritually. How we should be everyday really..knowing our weakness and strengthening ourselves with the Word.

Remember that we are all unique. Give place to respect rather than gossip.

Feel free not to judge. We are, after all, different.

Say Sorry.

the DiffErenCe between Sir Worry and Ms FaItH

Today I know, when I worry I consider things to come with a fear ridden attitude. When I have faith, I look at the unexpected with a hope-filled attitude.

When I worry, I see all those things on TV as unattainable. When I have faith, anything is possible.

When I worry, I hesitate to think about that which I am expecting. When I have faith, I am excited about the things to come.

When I worry, I have an anxious disposition. I wrangle with my reality and my dreams and always end up stammering and tripping over my thoughts as I try to make them into words. When I have faith, I cannot sit still. My movements mirror the fluttering in my stomach and a smile escapes each time a thought fleets by. I can hardly wait to express my sentiments over an issue and have to hold them back to prevent making green ogled monsters of my peers.

When I worry, I lack in all things. When I have faith, I know I am always sufficient and well-prepared for each moment.

When I worry, I steal from others’ moments by disengaging supportive gears and dappling in worst case scenarios. When I have faith, I respond with encouragement and prepare to tell of positive adages. I illuminate.

When I worry, I stay in bed. When I have faith, I stay in bed and imagine how to live out different scenarios.

When I worry, people get ill and die. When I have faith, people may get sick and possibly die but definitely rise again.

When I worry, I am the victim of my existence. When I have faith, I am the heroine in mine.

When I worry, I cannot love. When I have faith, I am fuelled by love and embrace all I meet. I cannot do enough to show them just how much I care.

When I worry, there’s no turning back. When I have faith, every single memory is a necessary stitch in my life.

When I worry, I can not. When I have faith, I will.

When I worry, my actions come to a dead end; when I have faith, I can inspire. My thoughts and ideas live past me.

When I worry, I try. When I have faith, I achieve.

When I worry, I cuss, when I have faith, I bless…..you get the gist right? Faith should always take premise in your life. Fight to believe in prosperity and goodness. Encourage yourself so that when those dreams of yours throw a bouquet, you are already at the bottom of the stairs at the steeple, hands thrown up, ready to catch them and breathe them into life.

I am so excited!!!

T