However, as it is written...

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him" 1 Cor. 2:9

This verse has come up from two different speakers in the last three days, so I decided that maybe there's more relevance to it than I've previously thought-something more that I haven't quite realised. We often read scriptures and don't manage to get a full understanding of what God actually wants us to know (well I know I do).

As I read this verse in the Amplified version I was drawn to the elaboration on "prepared". It suddenly made more sense, there are plans and things in store for us that have been already made and they are simply being kept until their various allotted time and for us to physically go out and seek God and love Him with all our being and lives. He has great and wonderful plans (those that are already prepared), plans which are beyond our dreams and too great to fathom.

I guess its sort of like baking a cake and greasing a cake tin. We prepare a baking tin prior to a baking expedition. That tin and its preparation (synonymous with God's plans - bear with me please!) waits, sometimes longer than actually intended, whilst we mix all the various ingredients together to make the batter and wait for the oven to heat up. The tin is available for immediate use, but as the baker we need to actually use the tin and accept it as the perfect container and mould for our cake or else we could disregard it through greed or laziness (amongst other things) and not actually end up with the cake which was the intended purpose of the exercise (synonymous with life).

I've no idea whatsoever if I've made any sense but I was just thinking about what God has prepared for us and thought it so very exciting that we can't see the plans or hear about them and that they're actually, truly there. I can't even conceive of them, but that doesn't limit God in anyway...

Its pretty chilly today...hope you all have a wonderful day however resting in the assurance that God's got those unconceivable plans over the lives of those who love Him...

active as opposed to passive...

Sometimes our circumstances render us completely helpless, well so it seems. Our circumstances paralyse us and lead us often into a state where we don't know where to turn next, which step to take, what the correct answer is.

But we're not as disabled as we feel, yes we may not be able to move within the cast (our circumstances), but this doesn't mean we have to revert to passive acceptance or disgruntled immobility with no option beside self-pity. We can from within our body casts speak to our Creator, read His word and commit the words He speaks to our hearts...this may seem passive in the sense that its regarded as being active when one runs after a ball or in the opposite direction to what may seem like a storm or hurricane heading straight towards one.

And yes there are times when such active stances need to be assumed, that run and I mean run stance. But other times we may find ourselves in the middle of a rough sea, knowing full well that with only our mere human strength there's no way we could survive. Whats pretty freeing is realising that we can be active, without our running shoes on. We can overcome self-pity and passivity, we can know the promises held over our lives...

I was just thinking the other day how so often our circumstances may cripple us and how we're always told how to not let them consume us and what a revelation to realise that we can be in a body cast or facing some hard circumstances (like the picture represents) but still be active in allowing for change to come about...some people may think that praying and reading doesn't constitute as active, but I'd like to challenge that concept, as I've been challenged this past week in my own life.

just because...

The sun has come out today, just because God wanted to warm up our day when we position ourselves directly in it. Its quite a cool analogy I reckon. Similar to what Brennan Manning said about the spotlight of God's love, its always shining it just depends on whether we position ourselves in its beams or not, as to whether we're engulfed in that love He so freely gives. I don't know about you but today I'm making that effort to position myself in the spotlight of His love as its unfailing and free, it knows no faults and protects.

I love my parents and my sisters, I'm quite missing them at the moment...but soon I will be able to see them...

So today is the day that 22 years ago Danie was born. He doesn't like telling people its his birthday or answering in the affirmative if someone asks...but you know what its really his special day!

I don't have anything profound or poetic to write today, no "word pictures" or words of wisdom, however I felt the urge to blog...

have a great day and step into the spotlight...go ahead do it there's no regrets once you do!

blissfully aware...

I went for a walk today actually only a few moments ago and I was reminded about the amazing setting in which we find ourselves...the air was crisp and fresh, there wasn't enough noise from technology or the effects of man made machines to dampen out the sound of rushing water...the whole scene called for peace, serenity and calmness...thats the state the world should be in, well in my opinion anyway, I'm only a small town person through and through...can't keep up with the bustle and noise of cities and people on the go constantly...

I was blissfully aware that creation is definitely a source provided of which one can boast about God's creativity and artistic streak...who else could even comprehend of speaking into existence such beauty, such simple complexity as well as utter (even confusing) complexity....

so aside from my blissful awareness of my surroundings its a public holiday today, a day set apart to celebrate women...so I'd like to celebrate the women I know and love...as I get older I realise more and more the intense role women play (as well as the standards the world tries to prescribe for them to live up to!!), my mum's an example of that...a women who puts aside what she needs for the needs of others, a woman who cries when others hurt, who gets angry at the injustices of the world especially when they affect those closest to her...there's so very much more...

although today is a public holiday, I have work that must be done...so I'm going to end my ramblings here...

something new...

so its pretty cold out there, but its quite refreshing. I think I'm quite attracted to such weather especially when the evenings come and we've been blessed with a blanket of mist...walking back last night I was awestruck at the mist and how magical it looked with the brightness of the lights being slightly muted due to the translucent blanket, as well as the reflection of moist trees and pavements...it was quite a sight to behold...

due to this chilly weather I have something new to wear which is pretty exciting...its an accessory to be worn on my head and its purple and fluffy...I quite love this new item of clothing (although its not really that new)...plus it keeps my head rather warm...Botswana weather doesn't ever really provide the atmosphere to wear such a thing...

i love my family and miss them slightly...such great people, I wouldn't exchange them for the world...I just thought I'd throw that out there...family are good...

have a lovely chilly day and wrap up warmly...