'Only asleep'

Matt 9: 23-24

"When Jesus arrived at the official's home, he noticed the noisy crowds and heard the funeral music. He said "Go away, for the girl isn't dead: she's only asleep." But the crowd laughed at him."

Someone called Alex* dead when his father died and he couldn't afford to pay his fees.
Someone called Joy* dead after five years of marriage and no child.
Someone called Precious* dead after years of having her heart broken, and not finding the right man.

Someone may call you dead because you have been facing a particular problem or challenge for years now. Someone may call you dead because you are struggling. To be declared 'Dead' means to be trapped in a situation or circumstance, unable to get out.

However.........

Those who think you are 'dead' should hear what Jesus says concerning your situation "This Child isn't dead, he/she is only sleeping."

You are coming out of that situation a winner, God is giving you a story that men will marvel at!!!
He saves!


Prayer:

I thank you father because by your power and in the name of Jesus you are turning things around in my life. Every dry bone will live again. I will praise you and declare your marvelous works in my life in the land of the living in Jesus name.Amen.

His peace. My love.
Chichi

The Slum-dog Millionaire Effect

Romans 8:28 (NLT): "And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.

Don't scream in shock but I watched the infamous Slum-dog Millionaire movie for the first time early this year! I asked you not to scream now :)
The narrative of the film is so moving, I was close to tears at some point; it is a powerful film to say the least. What I found particularly interesting was how all the horrible experiences the protagonist had gone through aided him in answeing all the questions and winning the game show Who wants to be Millionaire. If you have seen this movie you will understand what I have just said, if you haven't seen this movie, what I am about to say will still make sense.

The Bible verse quoted above is a famous one, a christian favorite. It is a verse that brings comfort in the midst of trouble, and brings peace in the midst of chaotic events; the assurance that things will work out eventually births within us peace even if it is just for a moment.
Why do bad things happen to good people? this is a question I have pondered on so many occasions, many times I was referring to someone else, other times I was referring to myself.
Why this? Why that?
The verse above says if we love God, and we are walking in line with his plan for our lives (seeking his will) then ALL things that happen to us will turn out for our good. The temptation is to ask How?

Back to the movie Slum-dog Millionaire How for example was the death of the protagonist mother going to give him an answer to a question on the game show?

You and I don't know how God is going to do turn that pain into laughter, turn that difficulty into a testimony, but his word says if we love him we can be sure that such alterations are possible.
So let us strengthen our faith, let us pray for God's kind of peace to fill our hearts because God's word to us is that 'The pain has a purpose'. It is all coming together.

His peace my love.

a qualified teacher and counselor

"show me the path where i should go
O Lord, point out the RIGHT road for me to walk. lead me, teach me for you are the God who gives salvationn. I have no hope except in you." ps 25: 4-5

"the very day i call for HELP, the tide of the battle turns..." ps 56:9 [living bible].

there is nothing as humbling as being reminded that one is a work in progress without all the answers....

BUT

there is so much relief that follows when there is a qualified teacher and counselor like our heavenly father.

lord i trust you to make me the best you know i can be.

his peace, my love. chichi.

what do I say?

it has been a looooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggg while; i have been pondering what my 'first post' in months should be about.

something intense, start off with a funny story, go deep, stay on the surface?? what do i say?

well this blog is all about life and God, and life in God. so i will go as the spirit leads; plus this blog is not about me... not my alter, it is to God and to anyone out there who needs a pick me up ... should God 'pick you up' through any post here. wow! i will be so honored and blest.

christains are not perfect people with perfect lives; they are people who aim for perfection while the perfector perfects all that concerns them daily. i say this to remind myself not to look down on myself or anyone who loves God but falls short now and then; we wont get it right all the time, if we would there will be no need for grace.

i thank God for a wonderful holiday with my family; today i am forced to remember people who do not have that especially in the wake of today seven years ago in the US... the hurt and horror will not die. i prayed to God for him to comfort those people who lost family and friends, those who with the death of a husband, father, mother, wife, child lost the zeal and will to live, i prayed for comfort, his comfort. the bible tells me God is the God of all comfort. ALL, no matter the hurt he knows the words to say, the way to hold you and i to ease us from the crushing pain in our hearts.

someone will ask if there is a God then why do 'bad' things happen world over? i can not claim to know the anwer to that, but i am convinced there is a God; he lives, he speaks i am convinced. for as many things that raise questions to God's exitence, there are thousands that testify to it.

in time of hardship and anguish we who are God's chosen ones are called to trust him, TRUST him; a pslam says 'with all your heart' once again ALL. as my sister would say 'i may not see his hand but i trust his heart'.

somedays ago i spent time in prayer thanking God for his love. HIS LOVE is divine, his love chases the darkness away... for his love is the light at the end of the tunnel, his love is the reason why you and i SHOULD hope in him.

gosh now so much wants to pour out of me, for a second i had planned to just say 'stay tuned' lol.

what do i say? i say this HIS LOVE IS REAL, AND IT IS ABOUT TIME WE TRUST IN IT.

his peace. my love. chichi

A New Perspective

some days ago; i finished the book of Ruth... it was indeed a wonderful journey; every verse and all four chapters were solid food... tantalizing to my spiritual taste buds.... God had a word/message for me at everypoint.... to think i almost thought "nah!" when i was lead at first!!



so the title of this post is A NEW PERSPECTIVE; and that is waht happened to me after i read sometging in the book of Ruth 4:6:

"then I can't redeem it" the family redemmer replied.

let me give the background gist that lead to the above verse. Ruth had lost her husband and father-in-law and brother -in-law; she journeyed with her mother-in-law Naomi to the country of her late husband... a country to which she would be foreigner; but her selflessness got her thinking about her mother-in-law's need for her than for her own NEED {a message on its own.}

Ruth begins to work on the field owned by Boaz; Boaz takes notice of Ruth... he askes about her from his workers they describe her as a woman of HONOR {another message on its own}- i digress: " proverbs 31 vs 30:

"charm and beauty is deceptive, and beauty does not last BUT a womn who FEARS the LORD will be GREATLY praised."

CHARACTER IS THE SUBTANCE....

BACK TO STORY:

jewish custom says qulifies Boaz to marry Ruth so that her late husband's name would go on when she birth's her first son. but little problem; there is someone else in line before Boaz.

have you ever looked up to someone for something: be it their love, support, pressence, happiness for you .... and they failed to deliever.

have you ever watched the 'perfect' 'ideal' people /circumstances walk out of your life... come to a close even before you were ready for 'it' to end?

have you cried, cried because the people who were to stay left, the people who were to love despised, the people who were to support abandoned, the people who were to be committed betrayed.... THE 'ONES' FAILED....

and you think.... 'no one else left..." remember Boaz.

Boaz ent to meet the family redemmer before him and the man said "NO"... basically it would complicate his life.... Ruth was a problem to him... Ruth did NOT fit into his plans.... or was it that HE did NOT FIT into the plans God had for Ruth?!!!

am getting excited!

do not hold 'them' back; do not try to make 'it' fit.... when it has grown 'too old', 'too weak'... THEY HAVE TO SAY 'NO' SO YOUR BOAZ CN SAY 'YES'.

you have to let it go... let them go, give it up.... and let God have the space to bring nto your life the things the people he has ordained for you before time began!!

when the man said 'NO', Boaz said 'yes'; he could not say 'yes' tomarrying Ruth no matter how much he was intrested in it until the oppurtunity came up.... and the opurtunity ws hearing 'NO'.

No is a negative word.... but in the story of Ruth it was the best word that could be offered.

the blessing may begin with hearing 'NO'.

the gift may be wrapped in 'NO'

the testimony is born out of 'NO'

NO is often the key that unlocks the door to your God designed future.!!

so next time you are faced with a 'NO' smile something is about to happen....

ruth 4vs13,19-20:

so Boaz married Ruth and took her home to live with him.

when he slept with her, the LORD enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son.

this is their family line beginning with their ancestor Perez:

perez ws the fther of hezron.

hezron was the father of Ram

Ram was the father of Amminadb

Amminadab ws the father of Nahshon.

Nashon the father of boaz.

Boaz the father of Obed.

Obed the father of Jesse.

Jesse the father of David.

imagine what Ruth would have missed out on had the other man said 'Yes'.... she would have missed out on being one of the leading ladies in the chronology of Jesus's family line!!

time 4 a new perpective.

his peace . chichi

dedicated to my 'number one' Fan!! {believer} LOL..