Windscreen Madness

As I was driving in town earlier, I saw this guy with a bottle of soap water and a windscreen washing tool. The guy quickly looked for the most vulnerable looking driver, with a slightly dirty car and began washing away. Immediately when he was done, he started nagging for money. He knocked on the passenger window, signalling to the frightened driver that we wanted to be paid… The poor driver who happened to be a woman was stuck between three cars and an annoying, slightly threatening windscreen washer.

I immediately remembered why I disliked those guys who washed windscreens at the traffic lights. They just have no respect for a person space. Earlier this month, a man sustained 3 stab wounds in the head for refusing to have his windows washed (seriously, what is going on in our world). This really has me worried and I’m worried for the safety of my loved ones too. Anyways, equally worrying is the fact that Christians, and especially those who do not take the time to learn one on one evangelism are becoming more and more like these windscreen washers.  There is a serious increase of bible bashers who are doing more harm than good out there in the name of evangelism…

How would I ever allow a windscreen washer to touch my windscreen and also get paid for it? Here’s how:

1.     He must be presentable

2.     He must be friendly

3.     He must state his case - advise me on the dangers of dirty windscreens

4.     He must be affiliated with a car wash – ultimately the windscreen is just one part of my vehicle, these windscreen washers must point to the place where all of my car’s dirt can be dealt with

The list could go on, but let me leave it at this. What I’m saying is this. Children of God, let us not be a stumbling block in our interactions with others. I have seen many a time on social media, people exposing these Windscreen Washer type of evangelists who do all sorts of despicable deeds in the name of Christ. I have seen comments like “If this is Christianity, you can keep it”. I’m not only talking about the so-called preachers who feed people blood, and grass and all sorts of other things. I am also talking about you and me. We need to be conscious of how we approach people when we want to share with them the gospel of Christ. Please let us make sure we are not like the traffic light windscreen washers. Let us rather be like the car was salesmen who point to where the whole car can be washed clean. "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” Matthew 23:13

My Peace I Give You - Shalom

http://www.news24.com/Video/SouthAfrica/News/watch-violent-window-washers-stab-motorist-in-the-head-20160712

Take up thy bed

I saw something in the news recently here in South Africa. The first bit of good news to be reported in a while, a father took to the media to express his joy after his child received a new heart after 7 years of waiting for a donor. This got me thinking. How many months or years would it take to convince you and I that our situation is there to stay? That your poverty, sickness, failure, symptoms, how many divorces? How many miscarriages? How many relapses? How many disappointments? How many of these do we have to go through to know that our situation is hopeless?

The young child in the news waited 7 years after diagnosis. That seems like a lot right? Well I know someone else who waited even longer. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” John 5:5-7

Can you imagine being sick for 38 years? I haven’t even been alive that long... can you imagine being stuck in a situation for 38 years, be it an abusive marriage, barrenness, poverty, singleness, lack of career progression, any situation really. For some of us, 3 years is enough to throw in the towel... but a certain man held on for 38 years, a young South African boy held on for 7 years...

Your situation doesn't require the assistance of another to help you into the healing pool of Bethesda, for there is not where your healing resides, No, your healing is in Christ. The solution to your long term suffering lies in Christ. Where all doctors have failed to push you into the pool, where your qualifications have failed to push you into the pool, where your great qualities and fertility tests have failed to push you into the pool, I'm here to tell you that Christ has visited you and your situation personally.

Heart donation is quite tricky, unlike a kidney that can be donated and both the donor and recipient remain alive, the heart donor needs to die for the recipient to live. The spokesperson for the Organ donor foundation "said it was quite challenging to find a donated heart that was a match in size, tissue and blood type". I'm here to tell you that the same God who created the heaven and the earth, who designed every organ in your body sent his only begotten Son to die for you and I that we may receive new hearts.

My Peace I give you - Shalom

Are you squint?

So this other day, many years back, I was sitting at Rhapsody's having coffee with my cousin when two people asked to join our table since there weren't any more tables available. We agreed without hesitation and before long conversations were just flowing. At some point I was left alone with one of the people who joined our table and all was well until she said to me "Did you know that you're squint?" It was as if someone had slapped me out of a light sleep. I could not believe that the squint woman at my table was asking if I knew that I was squint. She was very squint, and the whole time I had said nothing about it. I then asked if she was just joking. When her sister came back and found us talking about the issue of her squintness she quickly shhushed me and explained that no one had ever told her about it. Even her whole family told her that she was perfectly fine.

I really didn't have a problem with how squint she was, and it wasn't a problem until she accused me of being squint. This reminds me of some people in the bible that Jesus spoke about also. He put it this way: "And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?" Luke 6:41

That squint lady waited until it was just her and I on the table and proceeded to accuse me of my squintness. That means that she had been looking and scrutinising the state of my eyes for a while. We need to be honest with ourselves about this issue. We don't want to read good news when we open the newspaper or gossip column, no, we want to hear how Pastor "this and that" was caught naked with his blessee... we scrutinise our fellow congregates and wait for the moment they fail or are overcome by that challenge they battle with... We even scrutinise our own siblings or family members to say "I told you he/she wasn't right for you" or "that job wasn't meant for you"...

"And why do you look (please underline LOOK) at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?" I do believe that the Lord would rather have us focus on self-introspection. We all have a speck in our own lives that when it has been removed, our testimony shared in love with help our brothers and sisters remove the specks in their own lives.

My Peace I give you - Shalom

The Family Song

Those who know my family from way back then, will remember this song that my dad used to love so much. The song went something like this: “There’s never been a day like this day, to me, there’s never been a day like this day to me, there’s never been a light that shineth so bright like this day, this glorious day…” my dad would sing this song all the time, and he would make us sing this song all the time… Today, I have my own reason to sing this song… I surely hope that you catch this revelation too…

The Lord brought to my attention three passages in the scriptures, and we all know them. The first one being Gen 1:16 “God made the two great lights--the greater light to have dominion over the day and the lesser light to have dominion over the night--as well as the stars.” (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

The second scripture is Gen 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” (King James Version).

The third scripture in Joshua 10:12-14 “On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel:" Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and moon, over the Valley of Aijalon." And the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance on its enemies. Isn't this written in the Book of Jashar? So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed its setting almost a full day.

In verse 14 (where my dad’s favourite song is from) the scripture says ”There has never been a day like it before or since, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man, because the LORD was fighting on behalf of Israel.”

I’m here to say to you that not only is the Lord listening to the voice of His children, but He is also expanding your authority or dominion. The sun and moon were created before man and given dominion over the day and the night. Joshua dared to reach beyond his sphere of dominion, see man was given dominion over the earth, and the fish and the birds, cattle etc.. it’s like this, man was destined to be a farmer, but on that day Joshua reached for the stars and became an astronaut.

The Lord is doing a new level of miracle in His children's lives. He is answering unusual prayers. He is changing the rules of the universe to allow His children to claim their victory and vengeance over their enemies. Some of you were destined for bankruptcy, some for chemotherapy, some miscarriage, some even for death… Believe it in your heart that you have overcome, take some time out of your day today and thank Jehovah for He is fighting for you, and He says to you today "fear them not, for I have delivered them into thine hand".

My Peace I Give you - Shalom

#Throwback Thursday

I remember the days of old. It is a Thursday after all. I'm going to take it back to 1995/6. Those were simple times. I made a friend in class called Phindu (@PSadiki), honestly I think it's because we were both a bit awkward. I, especially dressed funny in those days. I remember we would just rock our chairs in class and make funny noises. I don't think that we ever thought of the seriousness of hurting ourselves if we fell off those chairs.

Perhaps our age allowed for us to fall and not break anything. This was not the case for poor Eli. Do you remember Eli from the Bible? Well he is known for a few things but one that stands out for me is that he fell from his chair, broke his neck and died.

The Bible says in 1 Samuel 4:18 "And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years".

Poor Eli heard that the Ark of the Covenant was taken by the Philistines and he died on the spot. There is a lesson to be learned from Eli's last moments. A messenger came to Shiloh where Eli lived, told the people that they had lost the battle and the Ark, the people cried and startled Eli, yet he remained on his chair, the messenger proceeded to tell Eli that even his sons, both of them were slain in battled, but he remained steadfast on his chair. When the messenger told Eli that the Lord's presence had been taken away also, Eli fell backward from his chair and died.

So what am I learning? That one can lose everything, source of income, closest family members, house, car, wife, husband... As long as you have the Lord with you then you will live.

It really doesn't matter why the presence of God left your life and at what point.. The important thing is inviting Him back into your heart and life while He may still be found.

My Peace I Give you - Shalom

#Blessed

I have been quiet on this issue of Blessers and Blessees, I think it’s time I gave my view on #Blessed. See, a month or so ago, the Lord spoke clearly to me saying that in this year, blessings will overtake blessings... The Lord said you will hear great news after great news about all the aspects of your life, your marriage, your children, your work, business...

The story in Judges 1:14-15 goes like this "Now it happened, when she came to him, that she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you wish?” So she said to him, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.” And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs."

I remember when my dad bought me my first car in University (golf velocity), it was a dream come true, a blessing in deed. I soon found out though that the blessing would be a curse or a white elephant if I didn't receive another blessing to maintain it (petrol allowance). When my monthly allowance didn't change, God blessed me with my first job as a waiter, and suddenly the blessings of the car and the job complemented each other... why am I saying this?

Don't be overjoyed by the first blessing in this season that you refuse to expect the other blessings to complement and complete your other blessings. The Lord is going to bless you with the land and the springs of water, He is going to bless you with a life partner and money for your dream wedding, He is going to bless you with a car and another car, with a business and a market. There are no limits to the blessing of the Lord in this season. Do not limit the Lord with your lack of faith.

It truly is the day, month and year of your multiple victories. The Lord is fighting for you. The bible says "So she said to him, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.” And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs." Remain in Him, place your trust in Him and be obedient to Him... When you ask for springs of water, your generous Father is going to give you more than you ask for, He is going to give you the upper and lower springs...

My Peace I Give You - Shalom...

Bathing vs Swimming

A close friend of mine Moses and I, while visiting Tshipise a few years back decided one morning that we would combine bath time and swimming time, after all it was the same (naturally heated) water. We thought it was a great idea at the time but I see now that it was just utter laziness. In fact, it is what I call the "Naaman bath". It is long enough to be a recreational swim, but it is for the purpose of cleanliness. The Lord spoke to me this morning saying His people are confusing bath time and swimming time.

So this guy Elisha sent a messenger to this other guy Naaman who was sick with leprosy, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean”. This is an example of some confusion that might arise. Say your average bath time in 14 minutes, multiply that by 7! That’s over an hour of bathing, Naaman might as well swam for an hour 30 min. John 5:4 shows us another example of a bathing pool of water. In fact, in the pool of Bathesda, one only needed to be the first to step in. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.

The Lord says that many of His children are spending too much time in these pools of cleansing. Each Sunday, His children wait for the angel (preacher) to stir the water at church and they dive in, each Sunday they enquire of the Prophet for directions to the cleansing river of Jordan, and like Naaman, bathe in the sea of His mercy the whole church service long.

Don’t get me wrong, pools of cleansing are good, but the Lord is calling His children to the deeper end of the river. He wants from the inside of His children to flow rivers of living, healing water. Ezekiel 47:5 says "Afterward he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the waters had risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over or through." And John 7:38 "He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water." And wherever the double river shall go, every living creature which swarms shall live. And there shall be a very great number of fish, because these waters go there that [the waters of the sea] may be healed and made fresh; and everything shall live wherever the river goes. Ezekiel 47:9

The Lord is calling you and I out to the deeper end. Only children swim in shallow waters. Stop beating yourself up about what happened yesterday, or at the Durban July. The Lord has cleansed you of all your sin and infirmities, stop confusing bathing time with swimming time. It is time to swim in His anointing, and His anointing enables you to do what he has called you to do and that is to be fishers of men. Go out and be a river of healing to others this week.

My Peace I Give You - Shalom