Imagine me

I am sitting on the train from Los Angeles to San Diego as I pull out my phone and begin to type.

My mind's trying to soak in the reality that I'm finally in the US!

For a very long time, I'd always wanted to live in this country. I spent endless hours dreaming about the man I'd marry and life I'd have here.

A little or even much was influenced by what was seen on TV but those were my dreams, I suppose.

So I went ahead and challenged my father. I applied for a US visa and was granted up to five years which I never got to use. Only to end up in Australia instead.

As I type, I can't help but think that it's funny how life turns out.

I could only see what my human eye could; and see even further with eyes of faith.

And yet, God's plan for me was beyond these.

Imagine thirteen years ago if I had come to the US with nothing but my name to a five year visa, what would have become of the 'fairy tale' life I'd wanted for myself?

Well, I'd never know but what I've learnt is that it's wonderful to wait on The Lord to prepare a banquet whilst, in the meantime, focusing my energies on other immediate pending matters.

 I've often heard, "God's timing is the best timing". It's true!

And yet, I find myself at war in heart about things not happening the way I want it to.

My accusing finger pointing at God when things do not happen the way I want them to. "Why didn't you send me to the US? Instead I came to Australia", I often said and cried over things I had no control over.

While I sit on the train, my husband’s hand locking with mine, his words permeating the space between us, he asks, "What would you like to eat or drink honey?"

It's in these moments that I realise just how shallow I have been especially as a Christian.

Surely the God we serve is bigger than my own limiting thoughts because no father would watch his child put her hands in fire and do nothing about it. Would he?

How childish have I been to want things to go MY WAY! Such lack of spiritual maturity to understand that only my maker knows best what He has designed me for.

Imagine me sitting here on the train ...finally in the US and with more to my name than just a five year visa.

To God be the glory!

Kapesa Singogo Smith-Chatterjee

MCOM, BSc, HDA, A+, MCP, TSIA

BE SMART, STAY BEAUTIFUL AND NEVER STOP BELIEVING IN THE ALMIGHTY...

Happy Birthday

As a twin I am guaranteed to never have my birthday forgotten. When we were younger my sister would wake me by bouncing on my bed - at five in the morning - and singing out a very bright and loud “Happy Birthday”.

As we grew older and moved out of home, it was a phone call with the same bright and loud “Happy Birthday”, again at five in the morning.

Now she has children, I can beat her with the phone call…payback! J

I cannot imagine a birthday passing without it being remembered by someone else.

The thought of it makes me feel so alone. If it’s ever happened to you…have a “Happy Birthday” from me.

What is even harder to imagine is if on your birthday, celebrations were planned, a feast was made, presents were bought and brightly wrapped…and you weren’t invited. Year after year; and you never get invited to your own birthday celebration.

I have a friend this has happened to. I never realised it. Every year I would be part of the crowd. I would be involved in the celebrations, eat the feast and unwrap the presents. It wasn’t my birthday, yet I got to do all the fun stuff…and I never invited Jesus.

It’s His birthday.

So this Christmas I’m taking the time to wake Him up at five in the morning with a very bright and loud…

HAPPPY BIRTHDAY

T P Hogan

Stillness

Right now I’m in a season of stillness. To me and to the world my life seems hidden.  This means that when I pray for my family or myself I don’t see any fruit. God is silent, not in a way that He is ignoring me but silence, to allow me to grow in my faithfulness. It’s very hard and I struggle, not everyday but some days… I get discouraged.

Everyone around me is flourishing while my spiritual life appears dead. I’m left thinking did I offend God? Maybe I prayed for something I shouldn’t have.  I press in and seek His face and I’m still not hearing Him.

But you know what? I may get discouraged, yet I don’t stay discouraged. I continue to seek His face, His Word, His heart and stay faithful in this season of stillness. Why? Because I think about how far He’s brought me and not how far I need to go.

Once this season is over, His promise will breakthrough like sunshine on a gray cloudy day. It will give way to new life.

Paul tells us, our troubles are light and momentary and are in fact achieving for us an eternal glory that outweighs them all. Is this not encouraging enough to continue to press in?

In our human thinking we think we should not be faithful because there is nothing to be faithful for because our circumstances do not appear good. However, from God’s perspective you can be faithful and need to be faithful, because He is in charge and is working things out behind closed doors for His purposes.

‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts and your thoughts.’

Isaiah 55:9

 This is the scripture I’ve been meditating on; 

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

2Cor 4:16-18

Will you continue to press in with me? Seek Him, who is the author and finisher of our faith?

Let’s allow God to work so we can come into full bloom! Xoxo!

Women After God

Saying good-bye to 2012

Another year has gone and we are almost at the silly season when everyone tries to take some kind of a break and have some fun. The years really march away from us as we grow older and I often look back to being a child again. I remember how my imagination would run wild about what Santa might bring this year or how we would go on holiday. It took forever for Christmas to come! My mother always made sure that we remembered why we celebrated this special time of the year and that the memories of that special night in Bethlehem were brought to the front of our minds.

I still love Christmas and to me it is even more important than birthdays. I know it isn’t really the time Christ was born and I know that Santa isn’t even a religious figure but rather a marketing tool developed by Coca Cola, but they all make this time so magical and I truly believe that even as we can celebrate the Queen’s birthday on different days, so Jesus would understand that we celebrate his life with us at this time. A time of a magical man who walked among us and showed us what true love was all about. Not the feeling of love but rather the acts of love for all humanity. He gave us the most precious gift of all time, everlasting life through him. The evergreen Christmas tree always reminds me of that.

I think of those families at this time that celebrate Christmas without remembering what it is all about and I pray that somehow the magic of this season will open their eyes and hearts to the love of our Lord Jesus.

SHED 19 AND HOPELINK

A MINISTRY OF GLADSTONE CHURCH OF CHRIST

HELPING A COMMUNITY HEAL – GROW – SUCCEED, ONE LIFE AT A TIME.