BEFORE GOD INTRODUCES YOU TO YOUR HUSBAND

Before God introduces you to your lifetime mate (not playtime boyfriend) He needs to trust you first if you are capable of being a Godly wife. So instead of playing and bargaining your time and heart with boys  

(a man not grown in the Lord is still a boy no matter how old) or grown man with stunted spriritual growth (selfish men) and eroding yourself worth, spend all this time getting acquainted with God. Let Him mold you and grow you.

Treat God as you would treat your husband, that way God will trust you enough to give you one of His princes as a husband whom you will love and respect. If you do not respect God and His commands how will you respect your husband.

You need to be so full of God that when a man looks at you all he can see God's glory and all he can do is praise God. This man loving you would just be his nature and way of worship to God. And you being so full of God would just make praise and worship your life and loving this man will just be as natural as breathing.

Allow God this time, to mold you into a vessel of His love towards the man you will spend all your life with. Ladies, ungodly relationships will erode you of your worth. If you have defaulted with God He is a forgiving Father, go bac to Him and repent. He will embrace you, wash you and put you in new clothes. He will restore your worth.
Do not waste anymore time come back now before you turn to nothing as without Him you are nothing.

UkuJola or finding a partner is not your purpose. Your purpose is to serve God and He will do the rest for you like introducing you to the right man at the right time.

WHEN I THINK OF THINGS I CANNOT GET

Tears fill up my eyes but are held back when I remember I am better off than someone else. Tears roll down my face when I think there was a time when I did not know better. Sometimes I let go and cry in my Father’s embrace as He dries my face. I pray for better. I pray for good things but then I remember someone else has it worse. Sniffles in my nose when I remember where I started. When I remember I cared less thinking life is just to be lived as I lived it. Now that I am here and good things have slipped my fingers I start crying out and asking God why? Why did I not know what I know now? Why did I go into unyoked relationships instead of having a relationship with God? Why did I not plan wisely, save money when there was enough? Why did I not share it and make a difference in the lives of the needy when I could? Why did I change jobs without listening to where God wants me to go? Why did I spend time gallivanting from one party to another when the real party is in the house of the Lord? Tears fill up my eyes and I feel like giving up sometimes but then I am reminded…. YOU HAVE FOUND GRACE, THAT’S MORE THAN YOU NEED.

You are probably reading this asking yourself is this a poem, a story to make you cry or a lamentation? This is reality of what most of us face on regular bases. I am writing this to all those who are still having it good. I am writing this to all of you who are beating themselves up for your mistakes.  I am barring myself to you for you to see my scars in order to protect you from getting them as well. For you who are crying daily, I’m showing you that these scars heal and with God’s hand on them they will disappear.

Life seems great when you can have whatever you want at the swipe of your card or counting of notes from your purse or wallet. It all feels like heaven when you can drive to any destination in your grand vehicle or even if you use public transport but you can afford just anything you like. I see how women can change their hair as and when they please and get their nails done and fake eyelashes to match their fake hair. Don’t get me wrong I am not hating because I was once one of those ladies who derived pleasure from looking good from my hair, nails, make up, clothes and shoes that match my bag. There is absolutely nothing wrong with looking good but there is everything wrong if it is to feel good, to attract attention to yourself and for some to make people see you are well able.   

I never really do it for attention but only because I love these fake things sometimes. But years ago I thought the right person would be attracted and believe me the “fake” ones are always attracted.

The world has made us believe possession of certain things adds to a person’s being. The world has made us believe belonging or fitting in makes a person complete. Hence we have these unhealthy relationships and marriages. What happens in the world is that when a person gets a job, their salary goes into the world and nothing remains for you. How? You ask. You enticed into credit. You get shopping accounts, you buy a car on credit, you buy a house on credit. But what other way can we get these things without credit?

I am not saying do not buy homes or cars if they really are a need. I am saying do you really need a credit card? Does it make sense to buy bread on your Woolworths account? Why do you drink Moët & Chandon or just alcohol and have the guts to swipe a gold card that has no cent of yours? Have you thought about “What If?” What if you lose your job? What if you become ill or disabled that you can no longer pay your past expensive lifestyle? What if then you really need a home or a car that is necessary but due to foolish spending on unnecessary brand names and not showing up at work due to drunkenness on “borrowed” money you then lost your job or you became ill or you got in an accident and wrote off the car you did not finish paying off and was not even insured? 

Mhhh…maybe you are a child of God (born again) and you don’t drink. Well you probably maxed your credit cards on all the best spiritual books out there, you do not wear any shoe that cost anything less than R700, you eat only good food (as Woolworths is assumed as the best), you go for regular spa treatments as your body is the temple of the Lord and your car if you have one gets a regular valet not a corner R40 carwash and you buy you house stuff nowhere else than @Home, Stuttafords, etc. If it’s not your house 40% of your salary goes to your rent hence the circulation of credit (paying credit with credit).

The point of writing this note is to open your eyes to what the world is locking us into. It makes us believe “To have” is “To live”. If it’s a gadget, there’s much better than the one that you have. We have all bought in to having a Cellphone that even if you fill in a form or apply for a job there’s a Cellphone number needed. That was the end of home telephone numbers. Then it was Blackberry and we can no longer survive without emails and instant messages. Now everyone wants an iPad (Lord help me for I am still good with writing with a pen).  How do you get all of these things on your salary? CREDIT!!!

Ok…point of this was not to write about credit but to fill you in on “WHEN I THINK OF THINGS I CANNOT GET“. Every one of us gets that feeling. Whether you are the highest paid or not even paid a cent. God told me: “THINK OF ALL THE THINGS YOU HAVE.” My friends, what do you have? Someone out there does not have shoes. Someone out there does not have anything to put in the dry mouth of a screaming hungry and sick baby. Someone is looking for newspapers to make his bed tonight. There’s a girl who is getting infected with HIV unwillingly but for the sake of bringing food for her siblings she has to prostitute her life.

“WHEN I THINK OF THINGS I CANNOT GET” like buying my own monthly toiletry, eating my favourite cereal, getting a regular income I am reminded of God’s GRACE. I am reminded of how FAVOURED I am. I am reminded of my loving FAMILY and faithful HUSBAND. I am reminded of my EDUCATION and ability to apply SENSE and KNOWLEDGE. I am reminded of my PEACEFUL, COMFORTABLE SLEEP, I am reminded of the place I can freely receive the Word of God and WORSHIP Him. I am reminded of my PURPOSE.

What is my purpose? To glorify God in the way I live, the way I dress, the way I relate to others, the way I serve others and the way I service my clients. To bring God into the lives of those who don’t know Him. How? By giving and sharing with them what I have; which is the LOVE OF GOD by loving them and helping them. By using my gifts and talents to minister to them that they may know Him. Even through the work I do I work as I work for God and those who see the wonder of the work of my hands I tell them “I AM JUST A VESSEL”

“WHEN I THINK OF THINGS I CANNOT GET” I am reminded that I have eyes that see, I can hear, I can smell, walk, use my hands and speak. Birds fly, chirp and sing. Bees pollinate flowers and make honey. Flowers bloom and make the world colorful. The sun shines during its appointed times. My friends, look at what you have and use it to glorify God not yourself. Share it with the needy and not keep to yourself. The best place to invest is in the lives of the needy. The world will enslave you through credit and desires to look better or have the best gadgets, car, hair, clothes. Wake up from self and give to God through giving to others. There will be no bad credit to your name but goodness and mercy shall follow you till eternity.

“Thy will be done as it is in heaven” that is what we pray and God’s will can only be done through us when we are willing. “You are blessed to be a blessing”. “You are blessed coming in and blessed going out”. All these blessings shall overtake you if you keep God’s commands.

 “WHEN I THINK OF THINGS I CANNOT GET” I praise God for I know He knows what is best for me to have. I praise God for I know I WILL NOT GET SICKNESS, LACK, POVERTY, INSECURITIES, GENERATIONAL CURSES because I have God as my Father, Provider, Healer, Protector and Redeemer.

“WHEN YOU THINK OF THINGS YOU CANNOT GET” ask yourself:  “WHAT DO YOU HAVE?”

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!

GOD WILL ANSWER YOU

My dear friends we all get disappointed in life when what we hoped, what we believed does not turn out as you expected. You could have been in a relationship but unexpectedly it breaks apart. This note below is actually a response to a client of mine who is now my Spiritual sister who was to get married last year but God had a different plan. She gave me permission to share this incase someone has experienced something similar. It does not have to be a relationship. It could job. Read on and find an answer or two to your question.

I am sorry about the outcome of the”could have happened” marriage. Do you know God will never ever let you stay without closure and explanation of why it turned out the way it did? (Ok I am just assuming it was not death). People always say “It was not meant to be” when things don’t go as we expect. Only God knows and you must pray and ask Him. God is not inhumane. He became man through Jesus Christ to dwell among us, so He understands feelings and emotions. So just like if you would ask your earthly father why he not allows you certain things, you just as well have the right to ask your heavenly Father. But that does not make Him man because God is faithful; He is not man to lie, nor a son of man to change His mind.

I know He loves you so much that He wants the best for you. Naturally we think we are ready for marriage but if God wants the best for you, just like your earthly papa, He will not hand you over to a man for marriage before you are completely processed and ready to be an Ephesians 5:22 wife: “ Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.”
We might feel like we now understand that instruction from Big Daddy but only He knows us for He is the porter and we are the clay. The clay pot can never know that is ready to be used or not.

Even if when people break our hearts, they themselves can be oblivious to why they do what they do. One pastor in 2003 said people hurt us through a blind spot. We might label them selfish but sometimes people are just prone to being vessels of the thief and liar of this world. But one truth is:” All things work together for good for those that love the Lord.”

TD Jakes says in his ‘Woman Thou Art Loosed’ we as single women should not ask for Saul (the Israelites saw other nations having kings and demanded to have one too.). He says we must serve God in our singlehood, whole-heartedly as though He is our husband by spending time with Him like we would with our husbands. That way He will be certain that He can give one of his princes chosen by Him and not you to marry you to marry you.

I say if it is His prince, chosen by Him, in the right time, he will surely treat you like his queen. Remember in Genesis 2:18 after God realized that it was not good for a man to be alone? He decided to make him a suitable helper. He put him to sleep and out of his rib God formed the woman and when God presented her to him he recognized her and said “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh;” (Genesis 2: 23). My sister, God has put your Adam to sleep and He is in the process of moulding you, perfecting you, into his suitable helper. This is how I manage to stay single and 100% sold out to God.

I live daily according to
§                               Matthews 6:33:
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

§                               Matthews 6:33:
Delight yourself in the LORD,    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

§                               John 15: 1-8

The Vine and the Branches
 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
   5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

To add to the mail for this note:

If you can live according to these above scriptures, surrendering yourself to the Lord and being fully committed to living for Him He will give you more than you ask for. By delighting yourself in Him, spending time with Him, you start to resemble Him and your desires will be molded by Him. When your desires are molded by Him, you will than pray in line with His will because He has given you desires that when you tell Him about them, He will give you because He already has the provision kept specially for you.

I advice, you beloved friends, quit depending on yourselves and leaning on your own understanding. Give God access to your life through prayer so that the plans He tells you about in Jeremiah 29:11 (plans not to harm you but to prosper you) can come to pass. You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body (1 Cor 6:19c-20).

Let God take over and rule over your life and allow Him to use you for the purpose He created yourself. At the right time, when you are ready to be introduced your Adam, Boaz or Jacob, He will put you in the right garden, garden or path where your lifetime mate will see you. Note, he will see you; meaning he will know that you are the woman he should marry.

Quit running in and out of relationships that take away a part of you ad damage you emotionally and spiritually. Hindering you from being the best person God has created you for. Stop breaking God’s heart by allowing yours to be broken. Give your life to God and He will never leave you nor forsake you. Even when you get married, keep God in your marriage. “A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” (Eccl 4:12b)

 God loves you and I love you too!!!

"MARRIAGE IS NOT...sex. SEX IS NOT...marriage"

                                                                    Marriage is not sex!
                                                                  Marriage is not for sex!
                                                               Marriage is not about sex!

Marriage is a ministry, a fellowship, a union which God created to have man and woman minister love to one another same way as He loves us and from learning to love one another like He does we can breed and extend this love into the world. This love is not physical love. Sex is primarily for reproduction if we speak biology but to mankind, God gave sex as a gift to enjoy in marriage. 

Spiritually speaking sex in mankind is for man and woman to become one. It is not just fluids that are exchanged during coitus but emotions and spiritual strengths, weaknesses, etc.
If sex was that important how would a physically unable (sickness, accident or born that way) couple's (2 shall become 1) marriage be strengthened or how will they become one?
Sex is just an added recreational benefit. Recreation? Yes- playing together as one person I don't have to paint pictures.

The world has perverted sex so much, made it seem like the best thing to have or do that young unmarried people ignore God and indulge in it. And having had that premarital experience affects our view of marriage that we think where there is no sex/no good sex there is no marriage. It has also been made to be the destroyer of marriages- Premarital experiences affecting the union.

So how do we overcome this? How do we become one? Through Prayer together- fellowship together as one unto the Lord. If couples would aim to have Spiritual climaxes and Spiritual orgasms(Lord forgive me for calling it this) praying for one another and the world we would have less divorces, less STD's, less abortions, less crimes, etc.

God's main aim to create man was to bring GLORY unto Him and He realized man had less impact and too much to deal with by himself in Eden (Gen 2:18). And on this point, Marriage is not our ultimate purpose or end as human beings- BEING ONE WITH GOD is. We are not alone like Adam because we have the body of Christ. We have our brothers and sisters so being single is not a curse for we ought to be complete in Christ as no man or woman is the other piece to you.

WHEN GOD, WHEN?

Searching...yet not finding
Knocking...but no door is opening
Sowing...yet still no reaping
Praying...having no answer
Crying...and eyes not drying

When? You ask: When?

Search... you will find in places nobody thought or looked
Knock...knock on the next door and the next door and the right one will open
Sow... for the right time to reap is near
Pray...continuously because your life and breakthrough depends on it
Cry ...until your eyes dry and seek the joy just by rejoicing always

He has seen you, He has heard you
He has answered, continue to do good
Continue to trust Him

Your door has your name on it!
Your job is being created to match not your qualifications,but your God-given assignment
Your harvest is too much to reap by yourself,in the right time you will have a field to share the work of your hands
Your prayers have unlocked the gates of heaven, open your hands and just receive

Cry, cry, cry the tears of joy
Cry, the tears of healing
Cry, the tears of appreciation

Lay your head on His bosom
Accept His embrace
Take His hand and let Him lead you
Listen and hear Him for He will tell you
What to do, where to go and when to go

Do not be shaken by the winds,
For the Lord is with you in this boat.
Do not be worried by what goes on around you,
For He says you shall not be hurt because you are protected by Him.

He knows your desires,
He feels your pain
He sees your tears
He understands your fears
He says: "Stay with me, stay in me
It shall be done to you according to your FAITH"

The end

WOMAN, KEEP YOUR CLOTHES ON

This note was inspired by a conversation I had with a newly acquainted social network friend one evening. We were chatting about relationships and why they break up as she told me she recently had a fall out with who she thought was “The one”.

As *Lu and I were chatting God told me to tell her that He wants her to have a blame-free marriage. That means a marriage not built on a shaky foundation of sex before marriage. So this now brought me to writing this for all the other women looking, hoping, praying and waiting for “The One.  

The world has blinded women and society as a whole that “SEX SELLS” and this has caused women to believe “The more skin I show the more attractive I look.”  Well yeah that skin might have a magnetic force to it and attract men but hey a magnet does not choose what it attracts if thrown into a box of bolts, screws, pins, metal, etc. Therefore how a woman presents herself will attract the men who see her as an object of their lustful mind. Matthew 5:28 says: “but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”  And just to remind women the word says also: “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak” 1 Corinthians 8:9.

The world has perverted God’s beautiful gift to man in marriage. “The gift of sex” and made it something worthless and meant for everyone to just misuse, manipulate and destroy each other with. It’s time women put a stop to this and refuse being objects of mens’ lustful desires.

Woman, keep your clothes on. Not just from being photographed half naked but from a man who is not your husband. A man who is not married to you need not see you naked in any form as this might cause him to fall as scripture does warn man about looking at a woman lustfully. However you as a woman will also be judged for causing others to sin whether be it through you literally being naked, posing nude, dressing in a way that arouses lust in men or having sex with him out of marriage. . Bathsheba was bathing in David’s full view which attracted sin after sin: Adultery >>>Murder.  Matthew 5:27-28 “²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

“1Thes:4:3: For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication”

Woman, keep your clothes on. The above scripture is not a request but a command from God. Here is the truth, it does not matter how long your maintained your purity, abstinence and I am “waiting for marriage” conversations with a man; it does not matter how you fought the temptation of allowing him to touch you inappropriately (outside marriage) if you let your guards down and give in you have lost so much of you than you can think.

“What do I lose? You might ask? First and for most you have compromised you commitment to God by choosing to please a man or is it satisfy your flesh? Secondly you have committed sin as you know by now that sex out of marriage (fornication) is a sin. Thirdly you have lost your chances to be cleaved to a man who could marry you as you have now opened the door to illegal spirits that might be operating in the life of the one you fornicated with. Fourthly, you have lost your trustworthiness with the man you slept with as he realized that you failed to be truthful to the Most High by going against your vow to Him and keeping His command. And, you have brought a curse upon yourself as it is stated in Deuteronomy 28: 15.

Let me tell you something you might have not heard, experienced or noticed. I actually heard my pastor confirm it as well that men are born hunters (not his exact words) and therefore as hunters they will chase the prey who is you, they do not mind waiting in the background to the point the prey brings itself to its slaughter into the hunters trap. So if you as a woman falls for the man’s “We are going to get married” or whatever he says that makes you loosen your Armour of God (Ephesians 6:10) know that you have kissed that ring goodbye.

I know of a couple that dated for over a year. The lady had kept herself and survived peer pressure in her late teen. She met “Mr. Not really Right” in a church. They went overboard and eventually because he promised he will marry her she gave herself to him before the altar and then he came back and broke up with her to marry someone else.

Pastor Mosa Sono once said in his sermon about “Soul Ties”: “The most valuable thing in a woman’s life is her body and the most valuable thing in a man’s life is his freedom.” He then asked: “Ladies why would you give a man the most valuable thing in your life when he will not give up the most valuable thing in his life?”  Which brings to mind most guys’ comment that why should they marry when they are already receiving benefits of a married life.

Did you know the scripture in 1 Corinthians 6: 16: “..he who joins himself to a harlot is one with her in body. The two shall become one flesh.” does not necessarily apply to specifically a harlot. In this context a harlot is anyone you are not married to. Therefore whoever you sleep with you become one with them. So Woman, keep your clothes on if you want to get married in the near future. Juanita Bynum in her DVD “No More Sheets” tells her own story how when she got divorced and later on asked God: “God why am I not married?” She says “God answered and said, ‘Because you were never single.’” She further explains that God told her that it was impossible for Him to join her to her husband as she is joined to all these men she slept with in her life. 

You are probably reading this counting in your mind how many men are still in your life. Yes they are still in your life even after ten years since you last saw him/them. Past partners lingering in your life do not require him to have impregnated you or infected you. Instead they are cleaved (clung) to you spiritually.

Ok, there’s a solution to this. Do not attempt any throwing in of the towel. I say this because some women have given in to fornication because they feel since they lost it they might as well continue. This is one of Satan’s tricks of keeping you out of heaven to go and keep him company in hell after eternity. This is the solution: Start remembering ALL the guys you slept with and then renounce them one by one in Jesus name. Pray that God renews you and restores you.

I know some of you would say that there are people who got married after fornication. Yes it’s true, it happens but is it build on a stable foundation, are these marriages happily ever after? How about you become different? Be as God wants you to be. Be blameless.

Mary, was a virgin when God chose her to be the mother of Jesus. Her own fiancé, Joseph had never touched her. Imagine he had to wait for the Messiah to be born before they could consummate their marriage. Then we have women failing to keep their clothes on and giving themselves to men they are not married to. Much younger women, actually girls are having children due to the fact that older women are failing to model being virtuous women

Women, let us help our society by tying our belt of truth to keep our whole armour in place.

WOMAN, KEEP YOUR CLOTHES ON.

A LETTER TO A SHOPAHOLIC

 Dear Clothes&Everything New Addict

I know you love shopping because of your love for beautiful new things. I believe nothing pleases you than a brand new garment, the smell of new leather, the texture of a new coat fabric. One thing that excites you the most more than anyting is the figure on the price tag. If anything costs lesser than R999 it is not for you. The only time you buy for less than R999 on an item is in the underwear department but because you have to hit the R999 figure the more of those lacy, beautiful and elasticated garments you buy the merrier and pleased you are.

Maybe I am wrong you do not overspend, so you just love the red, yellow hangers and sidewalk sales in the upmarket malls. Nothing makes you feel wise and victorious like scooping items that cost R399 at a cut price of R99. You just go to the malls and make a mental picture of items to come back for end of the month. If it is too small you believe it will motivate you to loose weight and if it is too big that lady who alters can do wonders to it so you can fit in it. You rarely get invited to weddings if you do its only twice in a year and you do not attend evening functions but you believe a classy dress or suit and maybe two evening dresses need to find place in your full cupboard. And oh, for every garment you buy yo always buy a shoe and a bag to match.

Oh, woww!! Did you see those new Aranda blankets? "The ones at home are not enough", you think to yourself. Your daughter is still and infant but you feel these shoes they have on sale will never be sold again when she is six years old so you believe you should buy them for her. I love you new pots do they cook better than the ones you have not used?

I know shopaholics are not just women.

Sir, by the way how many perfumes do you have? "This perfume is no longer available as they stopped production of it and I have not opened mine" , says the good-smelling-but-nauseating well dessed gentleman. You do not drink alcohol but you love your wine collection. Nothing younger than 2000 on your rack. Sir, did you see the latest man bags are no longer so unmanly? They remind me of the bags men carried in the 70's. Mhhhh I know you will buy the sixth one and yet you are still getting the courage to carry a bag and still feel like a man. But really, do you need another black suit, black belt and shoes? Well, every man needs a tie for every day of the month. Sir I love your watch. Oh really? You have a collection? Mhhh...what is the time?

Ok maybe you are young and your parents buy stuff for you. Boy, I can imagine your anticipation of sitting in front of your latest, what is it called? an X-box? Wowwwww!!! It's all I can say so where's your Playstation 1 up to..... Ummm I'm clueless on these things. I love your IPhone and what is it you are listening to? Lovely shoes you got on. Oops sorry they are called what? Jordans? Mmmm I see.

Girl your hair is beautiful but you had different hair last week right? Are they cool with coloured weave at your school? Nice one. You also changed your look. Who is your fashion inspiration now? You mean you no longer wear those Katy Perry cute dresses anymore? You are into jeggings, boots and leather? Nice. I can only picture your wardrobe. Now I understand why you take so long to get ready. Too many clothes to decide on.

So you buy anything that is cereal because your children are choosy? Woww!! Corn Flakes, Coco Pops, Rice Crispies, Muesli with what? Yummy I just got hungry from the variety. Can I come for a visit, watch a movie, eat buttered pop corn, crispies, peanuts and chocolate? Mhhhh... But don't food get spoiled since you are always out and getting take aways? Yo! What is grocery bill? Do you NEED all of those things? Every month?

Ok, now that you read this and got to reflect yet feeling defensive and wanting to say you being judged: I am not writing from my own mind as the word says lean not on your own understanding. I am just opening your third eye which is your eye of understanding.

This above is for all of us who can afford to buy a loaf of bread, a carton of milk, a bar of soap, a pair of socks and anything we need to get by. it is not just for the shopaholics but for all of us who have clothes we no longer wear because they are fashion-outdated or the color is so last season. This is for all of us who have more than one jersey, one coat, one pair of boots and blankets we added to the ones we already had saying they are for visitors.

Think about it, have those clothes, shoes, housewear, perfume and everything you bought and used once, twice or even not have used appreciated in value? When you decide to spend R300 on the two of you at a restuarant (believe me it is no sin to enjoy the fruits of your labour) and still having  your freezer full of meat and vegetables in their rack, did you take note of that young man who begged for a coin? Well I know we do not all or always carry hard cash or coins on us, but did you find out what is his name and where is he sleeping tonight? I know we can never finish or stop people from begging. But the word of God says "there should not be beggers among you." There will always be beggers. They've been there even when Jesus was still on earth. One thing Jesus never did was overlook beggers or leave preople hungry hence he stopped when called unto Him and He fed 5000 men with just Five loaves and a fish.



My friends, my family and my beloved, I am writing this to remind you and since the word is a double-edged sword I am reminded myself of the great commission. Jesus has called us to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, open the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf... are we doing that? Why are we waiting to get rich yet we have a choice of clothes in our cupboards? Why do we shrug our shoulders at the hungry man at the street corner when we have grocery in our cupboards. We either say "Sorry my bother I have no coins" or "Sorry next time". Have you ever seen the parking attendant eating or opening a lunchbox yet even if you never asked him to guard your car and you actually found the parking spot yourself, will it hurt us to buy the R20 meal at KFC, Nandos, Debonairs or anywhere else? Will it take us out of budget. God says he who gives to the poor lends to the Lord.

I am saying this as an eye opener and sharing on the joy God has been pouring into my heart to think of these "invisible" ones. Invisible because society overlooks them. If society had a big broom, society would sweep these God's loved ones off street corners and out of malls and wherever you find them . Because society frowns at them saying "Bayahlupha labantu". We look good, pray hard, pray with and for our brothers and sisters in the Lord, giving each other hugs saying: "It is well. God is faithful."

I thank God for He lives in us those who take cogniscence of those He sends to us to help. I thank God for the friends He brought into my life for every moment I spent with them I have seen God working in the lives of the poor in spirit and everything.

If God says, give the coat you are wearing to that little boy, will you hold on to it because of what you paid for it? Brothers and sisters, these things do not make us but hinder us from receiving the fullness of joy, the overdue complete blessings from God.  If you miss that double Mac lunch for that hungry man today do you think you will faint?

Ok this is where I end my note. I am supposed to be working on a an assignment due on Wednesday morning and completing clients garments but I had to do this is I was moved to speak to all of you who are blessed.

On closing, the word of God says if you are faithful with little you will be made ruler over much. Ask yourself: "Can God trust me that when I am wealthy I will give to the poor? Have I been faithful to give out of my need just like the woman who offered her last penny and the widow who baked with her last flour and oil and the boy who gave his lunch to feed 5000 people? Would I really be like the one who washed Jesus with her perfume and dried his feet with her hair (can my Brazillian hair take it?)? So, do you really hope to be wealthy, out of debt and have a good return in your investments?

My shopaholic friend, let's go shop for the poor, let's empty our cupboards, let's give the unopened perfume to our uncle. Whatever you do not use or want someone out there really needs it. Whatever you choose not to eat because of taste someone's stomach is cramping to filled with it.

PLEASE CONSIDER THE POOR

Scriptures concerning help to the poor


Prov. 19:17 When you help the poor you are lending to the Lord--and he pays wonderful interest on your loan!
1 John 3:17 But if someone who is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won't help him--how can God's love be within him ? 1 John 3:18 Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions. 1 John 3:19 Then we will know for sure, by our actions, that we are on God's side, and our consciences will be clear, even when we stand before the Lord.
James 1:27 The Christian who is pure and without fault, from God the Father's point of view, is the one who takes care of orphans and widows, and who remains true to the Lord--not soiled and dirtied by his contacts with the world.


Psa. 82:3 Give fair judgment to the poor man, the afflicted, the fatherless, the destitute. Psa 82:4 Rescue the poor and helpless from the grasp of evil men.
Prov. 21:13 He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need.
Prov. 28:27 If you give to the poor, your needs will be supplied! But a curse upon those who close their eyes to poverty.
Prov. 22:9 Happy is the generous man, the one who feeds the poor.