Knowing what ‘is also written’

‘…Jesus answered…’It is also written…” Matthew 4:7

After the blessing comes the battle! And Jesus was no exception. Following His baptism ‘…the Spirit sent him out into the desert’ (Mark 1:12 NIV), and after fasting forty days He was hungry. That’s when satan showed up and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread’ (Matthew 4:3 NIV). You can count on the enemy to show up at your most vulnerable moments. And when he does you’d better know what the Word of God actually says – not just selected snippets and quotes you’ve heard second or third hand. ‘All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching …in righteousness’ (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV). We pick the parts of Scripture that fit our lifestyle and bolster our theology, but when the enemy manipulates God’s Word and uses it against you, you need to be able to say, ‘It is also written.’ You need to know what else God has to say. The Bible says satan ‘will speak against the Most High…oppress his saints and try to change…times and …laws…’ (Daniel 7:25 NIV). Satan knows the Word of God is ‘…a double-edged sword…’ (Hebrews 4:12 NCV), but he’ll still try to engage you in a swordfight! But ‘Jesus answered…’It is also written: Do not put…God to the test.’ He knew what His Father had actually said, and refused to allow satan to dictate His responses, including what He should eat. Whose menu are you eating from today? Are you like the prodigal, settling for pig-swill while your Father has a feast prepared for you? Tell satan, ‘…Get thee behind me…’ (Matthew 16:23), and stop letting him bamboozle you with lies and half-truths! Get into God’s Word and get it into you!
http://www.ucb.co.uk/word_for_today

I’m at a point in time when I need to know for sure what it is that is written…I feel very vulnerable right now…
without further ado…I’ll dig in to the Word,
I would like to know that you’re alright,
take good care,
till next time,
easy does it

What are you called to do? (3)

‘You are the salt of the earth…’ Matthew 5:13

Observe: 1) Your calling is often connected to what troubles you deeply. For Moses it was the oppression of his people. So God used that, and called Moses to lead his people to freedom. For William Wilberforce it was slavery. He devoted his entire life to seeing it eradicated in England, which it finally was shortly before his death. For Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, it was the injustice of a society that enslaved and oppressed African-Americans. So he dreamed and he preached and he marched and he organised and he boycotted, and the Civil Rights Movement was galvanised. If you want to discover your calling, begin praying about what troubles you deeply. Usually we try to avoid unpleasantness, but if you have a sense that your calling involves helping the poor, spend time around those in poverty. Allow your heart to be moved, carry within you the conviction that things must change, and keep praying, ‘Lord, make me a change agent.’ 2) Your calling means God believes in you. When Jesus called His disciples they didn’t look like winners. Generally, in their day if someone was going to be the follower of a rabbi it happened much earlier. Plus, rabbis didn’t recruit, they took applications. But not Jesus. He picked a doctor, a tax collector and fishermen and said, ‘I believe in you. What I know I will teach you.’ He promised, ‘…He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also…’ (John 14:12 NKJV). No wonder they left their nets! Jesus empowered His followers to go out to live as He lived. Today, that’s what He is calling you to do.
http://www.ucb.co.uk/index.cfm?itemid=88&testdate=28 May 2009

I have the flu…I worked aloone on the show today, did feel rather lonely, kinda says something about the light in which I see my co-host. With that said, I need to find my on-air mojo back…suggestions are welcome,
that aside, I am unable to comment to posts made on my blog, is wordpress losing it? I have a lot to say to what’s been said on my wall…sorry…my blog
till next time,
easy does it

Not sure I’ll make it for the happy hour tonight, I’m a little under the weather, but we could have a txt msg war…yes I’m back on air, so txt me during BHH and let’s all have a bl-all, tee hee hee

What are you called to do? (2)

‘You are the salt of the earth…’ Matthew 5:13

When God called Moses, one of the questions He asked him was, ‘…What is that in your hand?…’ (Exodus 4:2 NIV). Moses held his shepherd’s staff. It represented his livelihood; it’s what he was good at. It represented his income; his flock was his wealth and his family’s security. God asked him to be willing to lay it down. God still asks, ‘What is that in your hand?’ What has been given to you? Your gifts, your money, your temperament, your experience, your relationships, your mind, your education. God has given you what Dr Martin Seligman calls ’signature strengths.’ Seligman found that human abilities fall into certain categories. He defined them as: a) wisdom and knowledge (which includes abilities like curiosity, love of learning, sound judgement, and social intelligence) b) courage (perseverance and integrity) c) humanity (with capacities for kindness and the expression of mercy) d) justice (the ability to bring about fairness and leadership) e) temperance (qualities like self control, prudence, humility) f) transcendence (the appreciation of beauty, the expression of gratitude, the ability of hope, the capacity for joy). We all have the capacity for each of these strengths, but a few resonate more deeply in you; they are your ’signature strengths.’ Identify these, and you begin to understand your calling. Sometimes we think God couldn’t or wouldn’t use us because of our weaknesses. No, the opposite is true. No one can speak to those who grieve, better than those who’ve suffered loss. Chuck Colson was the chief White House lawyer, until Watergate. But it wasn’t until he was a convict that he was prepared to begin prison fellowship. Today, if you let him, God will use you.
http://www.ucb.co.uk/index.cfm?itemid=88&testdate=27 May 2009

Still love Manchester United, I do,
twas a beautiful game, congs Barcelona,
till later today,
easy does it

What are you called to do? (1)

‘You are the salt of the earth…’ Matthew 5:13

Sometimes what a person contributes doesn’t get noticed until they’re no longer around to do it. The story’s told of the husband who came home from work to find his house in a complete mess. The baby was crying, there were dishes piled up in the sink and dirty laundry on the floor. The TV was blaring, beds weren’t made, carpets weren’t vacuumed and dinner wasn’t ready. When he demanded to know what was up, his wife said, ‘You know how you always ask what I’ve been doing all day? Well, today I didn’t do it.’ The Bible says, ‘…Each one should retain the place in life …to which God has called him…’ (1Corinthians 7:17 NIV). This doesn’t mean that we should not aspire to greater things. It just means that if we can’t start here where we are, we can’t start at all. One day Jesus healed a demon-possessed man who’d spent years separated from his family. After being set free, the man wanted to travel with Jesus. But Jesus said, ‘…No, go back home and tell them what the Lord has done for you…’ (Luke 8:39). In other words, start where you are, use what you’ve got, and do what you can. The Bible says: ‘You are the salt of the earth.’ Salt doesn’t exist for its own pleasure. It must be poured into something bigger than itself; only then does it fulfil its purpose. But be careful, don’t be ego-driven. The quest for significance can be misleading. You can’t do it by yourself for yourself, you must do it with God and for His purposes; then God will bless you!
http://www.ucb.co.uk/word_for_today

And to think that I had just had a wee burst up with some guy at work over his failure to do his job and yet felt the need to get in my space and time on the radio show, totally disorganising my flow and then swanttering off like he had made his mark….*&&^%# yes I came that close to saying somethings I wouldn’t be too proud of.

Was anticipating a quiet mellow evening with Mr. Gentleman, only to have him cancel with the reason that he’d be working late. I’m gutted and wasn’t holding my breath…I lie, I was gasping in anticipation waiting on his response when  I asked whether we were still meeting up…remember? Anticipation?!

I’ve since calm down…a part of me feels like stuffing my face with fries, or is it ice cream? Can’t decide… I know for a fact that the way I feel isn’t where I want to be. And the amusing thing is that, much as I’m an emotional being, I’m primarily spirit and flesh…which is agonising when the physical seems to dictate how one ‘feels’

…I’ll be alright,
you better be having a better time than i am, because you deserve it,
go get them,
till next time,
easy does it

I’m off air for a bit, phone was knicked on friday

May I request that you send me an e-mail with those contacts so as to rebuild my phone database?
Would appreciate it,
till next time,
easy does it

The path to the throne (6)

‘…I have found David…a man after My own heart…’ Acts 13:22

The life of David could be captioned in these words: ‘I love God supremely, and there’s nothing He asks of me that I won’t do.’ Can you say that? Everybody dies, but not everybody fully lives. The Bible says, ‘These are the last words of David…’ (2 Samuel 23:1 NLT). A man’s last words are considered to be some of his most important words. During his lifetime one of David’s sons raped his sister, a different son killed another, his wife turned her back on him, his best friend betrayed him, they took his kingdom, his mentor tried to kill him, his family rejected him and he spent a lot of time hiding in caves. Now he’s going to speak to us one last time. What will he talk about? Goliath, Saul, Bathsheba? No, listen: ‘David, the man who was raised up so high, David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, David, the sweet psalmist of Israel. The Spirit of the Lord speaks through me; his words are upon my tongue. The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me: “The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God, is like the light of morning at sunrise, like a morning without clouds, like the gleaming of the sun on new grass after rain.”‘ Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, he had made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success’ (2 Samuel 23:1-5 NLT). These words were recorded in Scripture for those of us who are less than perfect, but whose hearts never cease to hunger for God.
http://www.ucb.co.uk/word_for_today

Been doing some thinking…and I’m going to revert back to this and promises made before,
to do with talking, or should I say, writing about the exam, the relationship arena, now the prospect of moving out of home,
and having to battle with  Miss Goody-Two-Shoes on my right shoulder that tells me to stay home,
after all a good girl is found at home and only leaves when her husband comes to pick her from her parents home.
Miss-Dare-Devil on my left shoulder says to stop being a scaredy-cat and announce to the folks that I am leaving home, and let them deal with the shock…she rationalises that they’ll get over it.

The exam was amazing….like a warrior in ancient times, read gladiator, I walk into an arena filled with blood-hungry spectators,
not sure what to expect as I flip the question paper open…
Section A was like an oponent, who had all these shadow partners, mean looking…I was sure they could hear my pounding heart beat audibly through my breast-plate…the horror at my inability to even fathom how i begin to take on even just one of the questions…

But the battle isn’t on yet…we’ve been given time to size each other up. Did i mention that Section A and his colleagues show no sign of being moved by my presence. I begin to reminisce about my back-up buddies(all those discussions, the random pointers that the lecturer threw at us during lectures…). I take a step and some around the arena, when to my utter relief, appears Section B…familiar faces I can tell, I know these guys, and they’re on my side.

The battle has been raging on for the last 2hours and 40minutes…my side is winning, we have lost some comrades to Section A, but their death is made up for by Section B’s and my conquests on the battle field that evening.
…to be continued
till next time,
easy does it

The path to the throne (5)

‘…I have found David…a man after My own heart…’ Acts 13:22

The Bible says: ‘And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem”…So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well…took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it…’ (2 Samuel 23:15-16 NKJV). There are two important lessons here: 1) You must surround yourself with the right people. Unlike those who are only ‘in it for what they can get out of it,’ these men had only one thing in mind: to serve their king and promote his kingdom. No wonder David said, ‘I am a companion of…those who keep Your precepts’ (Psalm 119:63 NKJV). 2) You must refuse to settle for less than God’s best. These men risked their lives to bring David a cup of water, yet he poured it out on the ground before the Lord. David was saying: ‘I refuse to settle for a cup, I want the well; I must be connected to the life source.’ Stop treating God like a caretaker you call when you’ve made a mess and need someone to clean it up; or as your ‘go-for’ person when you need something you can’t otherwise get. Don’t go to God for a miracle, go for a relationship; and you can walk in His miraculous provisions every day. ‘He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty’ (Psalm 91:1 NKJV). Note the words ‘dwells’ and ‘abide.’ Instead of commuting in and out, stay in contact with God and all that He has will be available to you.
http://www.ucb.co.uk/word_for_today

…be encouraged,
working at an exam due this afternoon,
won’t say much here,
however,
till next time,
easy does it

The path to the throne (4)

‘…I have found David…a man after My own heart…’ Acts 13:22

Some of God’s promises are fulfilled quickly. But others, like the one God gave to David telling him he’d be king, have to be fought for. The Jebusites controlled Jerusalem; they taunted David saying, ‘…You will not get in here…’ (2 Samuel 5:6 NIV). To make matters worse, Jerusalem was on an elevation hundreds of feet above David’s army. The only way up was through a water cistern where they had to wade and climb through pitch-black darkness. ‘Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion…’ (2 Samuel 5:7). Understand this: if He has to, God will bring you up through the gutter to get you to the throne! Notice two words: ‘nevertheless’ and ‘took.’ When you’re up to your neck in problems and the enemy is saying, ‘You won’t make it,’ stand on God’s Word and declare ‘nevertheless.’ Rise up in faith and claim what God’s promised you. ‘…The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits’ (Daniel 11:32 NKJV). God can show you how to exploit the situation for your good and His glory. But don’t expect everybody to celebrate your success. ‘…When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, [they] went up in search of David…’ (2 Samuel 5:17 NKJV). You’ll have to fight to get to your destiny – and fight to hold on to it. You can’t ‘coast’ on old victories. With each new battle you have to get fresh instructions. ‘…David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines?”…the Lord said…”Go up, for I will…deliver the Philistines into your hand”‘ (2 Samuel 5:19 NKJV). Today, go forward knowing God is with you!
http://www.ucb.co.uk/word_for_today

….’subtle flute sounds floating in the air around you…’
    “Wade in the water, wade in the water childres, wade in the water…”
The exams are on me now, I finish on the 18th of this month,
say a wee prayer for me, won’t you?
I purpose to return with a bagful of writing for you when I return,
till next time,
easy does it

Tell someone about Jesus

‘A woman of Samaria came to draw water…’ John 4:7

John records, ‘A woman of Samaria came to draw water.’ After five failed marriages her trust levels are demolished and her self-worth is zero, so she approaches Jesus cautiously. Brick by brick He takes down the wall she’s hiding behind. When He gets through, she leaves transformed. What a contrast: one chapter earlier, Nicodemus, a religious leader, came to Jesus by night, suggesting he didn’t want to risk being seen with Him. After telling him he must be born again, Jesus said, ‘…Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light…’ (John 3:21 NIV). At that point, Nicodemus has to make a choice. There are three lessons here: 1) Christ sees potential in you when others don’t. ‘…The Pharisees…complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them’ (Luke 15:2 NKJV). They were right! This woman was the first person Jesus introduced Himself to as the Messiah. Why didn’t He do that when He called His disciples, baptised John, cleansed the temple, performed His first miracle, or interviewed Nicodemus? Because Jesus doesn’t measure you by your past, He measures you by your potential. 2) Christ will change you, then use you to change others. Amazingly, she was the first person to preach the gospel in Samaria. ‘…Many…Samaritans…believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified…’ (John 4:39 NKJV). 3) Christ doesn’t need to be defended, just introduced. ‘…Many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world”‘ (John 4:41-42 NKJV). Today, tell someone about Jesus.
http://www.ucb.co.uk/word_for_today

I spoke about Him to a ticketing lady on sunday, and to the boda boda guy that ferried me around that part of the city, still working out how I’ll work up the numbers of people that I’ve spoken to about Jesus, care to be counted?
till next time,
easy does it

Spartakuss, may you please let me post a comment…

I like the fact that you cook and enjoy the food…I have repeatedly try to post a comment, not sure whether I was successful.
So excuse the public display of ‘requests’

Enough said

Knowing what we’re up against!
‘…Take up the whole armour of God…’ Ephesians 6:13
In spite of a great spiritual awakening in Samaria, Simon the Sorcerer was still in business. The people ‘…heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time’ (Acts 8:9-11 NKJV). So, how do the apostles handle this situation? Sidestep it? Coexist peacefully with evil? No, they confronted him with the claims of Christ, saying: ‘Repent…[that] your heart may be forgiven…’ (Acts 8:22 NKJV). And Simon did. A good doctor identifies the problem then treats it. The forces of evil around us are real, and we must know how to deal with them. Remember the tortured man living in the tombs of Gadara whom Christ healed? The spirits within him did two things worthy of note. First, they introduced themselves as ‘…Legion…for we are many’ (Mark 5:9 NIV). A legion was a well trained, fully equipped division of the Roman army that took orders from Caesar. Second, they ‘…begged Jesus…not to send them out of the area’ (Mark 5:10 NIV). That’s because they’d established a stronghold there. Can you see a spiritual parallel here? You can’t fight spiritual battles with carnal weapons and hope to win. Blaming satan for all your problems is a cop-out, but failing to see him at work in your situation renders you powerless. To fight and win you must know what you are up against. You must be able to look beyond the obvious and see the actual! You are dealing with ‘…principalities…powers…the rulers of the darkness…spiritual hosts of wickedness…Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day…’ (Ephesians 6:12-13 NKJV).
http://www.ucb.co.uk/word_for_today

I’m haharing my boldness, but it’s all good,
till next time,
easy does it