Blessings through rain drops

A few Sundays ago, I watched Inside Out with a special someone. Overall, it is a great movie because I love animations and also because it has some good life lessons. One of the things I learned was that even though we think that sadness is irrelevant, it actually plays an important role in our lives. If  I were to ask a couple people to choose between sadness and joy, many would opt for joy. I probably would too, after all joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and I am definitely thankful for it. But sadness and all it encompasses has a purpose beyond what we think or often hear of.

Trials,injustices and suffering can result in sadness, grief and sorrow. But these are not the only results, apart from the gloomy and negative stuff, we have the some positive stuff  too. The Bible encourages us to take on a different aspect, to see beyond the obvious and common results. How does the Bible do this? I have thought of short list with many verses :)

1. We are not the only ones
The Bible is filled with real people that have faced real heart-breaking situations just like us. Take Joseph for example, he was a teenager when he was sold into slavery by his own brothers, then thrown into prison for a crime he did not commit and then forgotten in prison. Then Job, the classic example of suffering. Joel lost everything! His children, his possessions, his social status, his health. Basically everything we regard dear in today's society. And Jesus, our Lord, the ultimate example of suffering. He was crucified for our sin. He did no wrong, but He willingly lay down His life so that we may be reconciled to God. Apart from the Bible, the news or in our neighborhoods and cities we see others suffering too,we are not alone.

2. They are opportunities to grow, to be identified with Christ and to depend upon Him
 “We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:3–5,KJV).

" Dear friends, don’t be surprised or shocked that you are going through testing that is like walking through fire. Be glad for the chance to suffer as Christ suffered. It will prepare you for even greater happiness when he makes his glorious return. Count it a blessing when you suffer for being a Christian. This shows that God’s glorious Spirit is with you. But you deserve to suffer if you are a murderer, a thief, a crook, or a busybody.  Don’t be ashamed to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God that you belong to him." (1 Peter 4:12-16, CEV) 

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers,of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. (2Cor1:8-11)
  
3. God is with us

For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;  he will lift me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD. 

(Psalms 27:5,6)

   

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. (2Cor1:3-5)

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.(Psalm 46:1-3)

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you...Do not be afraid, for I am with you. (Isa43:1,5)

4. One day it will all be over

 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Romans 8:18-21)

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3,4)

When grief and setbacks come, it is not the end of the world. God is in control and He is able to bring something beautiful out of it. He is able to use it to refine us thus making us more Christ-like. I encourage you to see not only the negative stuff but the positive stuff too, it's worth it!

God Bless You

 Inspiration + Sources:

The Upside of Setbacks link to site

What Christians Want To Know

  

“The taste of restoration is sweet. There is nothing so great. Do not allow the bitter taste of past failures and defeat leave you with unresolved issues both in your mind and in your life that will weigh you down as time passes if you allow it. Give them over to God. Take those old wounds – the worries and heartaches about your wasted years, and let God restore to you the very years that were taken away. Then press on confidently in joy, He is your hope and your future.” Darell Creswell

Guest Post: Inevitable Joy by Alina Hall

 You said that all things are working for my good.
Those days when my boss gets on my case.
Those times when I'm laughed at.
Those days when I'm not the best friend that I could be.
It's all happening to make me more like you.
To slay the flesh,
To learn from my mistakes,
To humble me.

I am being renewed,
As long as I trust in you.
The present sufferings can't compare to the joy that's coming.

 Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:13
 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

 Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

 Romans 8:18              
 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Finitoque

Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord - 2Cor. 10:17

Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord. -Jeremiah 9:23-24

Three years ago, I began a journey that seemed endless. I embarked on an adventure of university education in a second language, Dutch. I don't remember my first class vividly but what I can recall was that it was not great. I sat at the very back of the auditorium, alone and uncertain, hardly understanding what my Chemistry professor was explaining. I went home dejected. The following classes from different courses followed a similar pattern. However, as time went on, I made friends who helped me understand the courses better. With time I became more and more independent, I was learning and understanding. I was diligent with my studies. During examination periods and projects, I almost cracked from immense stress. I cried numerous times but I have been encouraged numerous times too. I started at the lower ranks but God uplifted me to the higher ranks. This journey is now over, I now have my bachelor degree and I want to take this opportunity to say thank you.

I would love to thank:
 God, first and far most, because without His abundant grace, there is no way that I would have even began such a journey. Without His love and strength, I would have never made it. He provided me with a great sister and a team of lovely people who have played their important roles.

My family, my parents who supported my education thus enabling me to concentrate completely on my studies and not on bills etc! :) My awesome totally amazing big sister, Chibwe! Man, I love this girl. She always has my back (unless we are arguing) but I am truly thankful that she has always believed in me and encouraged me and helped and done a lot!

My (ex)friends; those who taught me how to study so as to understand and not to cram, Naomi who taught me not to fear exams but trust that God is able to see me through every time, Severien who has been such a great  friend, classmate and project partner, and everyone else who helped through prayers, notes from previous years etc. You all have a special place in my heart!

My church, especially pastor Seth and Mama, who encouraged us to study and also prayed fervently for us all.

May God bless you all abundantly for all you have done for me!

Mindset Mondays: Life or Death by Favour Omileke

'Life and death are in the power of the tongue, he who loves it will eat the fruit thereof'. The venom coming out of a spider's mouth is so powerful that it can destroy anything it comes in contact with. What comes out of your mouth when you speak? Words are powerful, words have life. Positive words bring life, healing and restoration..negative words are venomous and destructive. The words you speak over your life are important, they can either build up or tear down your life..speak life not death to your life to the lives of others.

 A single letter is a character on it's own, a visual symbol that merges with other symbols to generate syllables. Syllables intimately connected emerge as words. A single word blended with patterns other words become more than just words.
Words have a creative power, whether spoken or unspoken, they give expression to thoughts and create a certain reality. The words you say about yourself matters. What you say over your life today could be your reality tomorrow. Words are seeds spoken in to the future. Sow the right kind of seeds into your life so you can bear the right fruits. Wishing you a blessed, fulfilled and productive week ahead.

Head Over Heels

I love shoes and I don't know exactly why but there is just something about shoes that I can't wrap my mind around. Through my love for shoes, God recently taught me a lesson which I will now share with you.

Last week Saturday, I went to Antwerp to buy some things for my family back in Zambia and also to collect some items for my mother from an aunt. So I went to the shopping street but unfortunately, I didn't find anything for the family (I eventually got some things from Leuven) but I found these lovely shoes in Zara. I didn't plan on buying anything for myself and since I didn't want to buy them spontaneously, I took a picture sent it to some friends to get their opinion on them. Sadly since no one was online, I decided to leave them and I got my mum's items and headed back to Leuven.

Hours later, my sister and a good friend replied to my picture, they said the shoes were gorgeous! But I was now in Leuven, so I decided to check for the shoes online...however they didn't have my size online but the shops in Brussels did. Guess what I did? I went to Brussels despite the fact that I had organized a dinner in two hours, the trip to and from Brussels would take the same amount of time. That meant that I would be late. So I postponed my dinner to 8pm and off I went to Brussels. I eventually got the shoes with the help of a friend I met in the shopping street.

Now what is the lesson I learnt? When I was on the train to Brussels, I realized how big a leap of faith I was taking. The website said the shoes were available in Brussels but it was sales and the chances of finding them were slim and on top of that I had changed my schedule for a pair of shoes.

I realized that that's what God wants from us too. Those leaps of faith. The Bible makes a lot of promises but the difference between the website and the Bible is that the promises in the Word of God are true. What He says, we will find sales or no sales. Remember that "it is impossible to please God without faith" (Hebrews 11:6b). Faith "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1) is one of the major necessities of Christian living. It is by grace through faith that we have been saved (Ephesians 2:8) and we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). Faith, faith and more faith.

God wants us to make time for Him, and to go to great lengths for Him. I made time to get those shoes, I changed my schedule and I even had to get on a train for 30mins ONE WAY plus the walk to the shop. Faith needs time, it needs to be worked out, it's an investment. For faith without works is dead (James  2:17). This is not a work OR faith issue but a faith AND works.

Yes I am crazy for shoes but I should be even more crazy for God. My prayer for you and I is that we will take those leaps of faith according to His promises and make time for Him and go to greatest length to find Him. I promise, we will not leap to disaster but to a greater reality!

God bless!