EXTRAVAGANT LOVE: OUR BOX OF GOODIES

From the comfort of my home, I wish you all a HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY and love all year round. I made this box of goodies especially for you, with the help of my husband, Chris and our daughter, Renata. I hope you will find strength and courage each day to fill it with love, goodness and tender mercies for your family, friends and people around you and above all for the GLORY OF GOD.

The blueberries were handpicked by my family and I last autumn and represent OUR LOVE ADVENTURES.

The strawberries were bought and frozen for use over the winter period and represent OUR LOVE RESERVIOR.

The scented candles with an orange fragrance represent OUR EVER GLOWING LOVE.

The tiny heart-shaped lid in the middle concealed the greatest gift a man can give to the woman he loves…my engagement ring…and it represents OUR EXTRAVAGANT LOVE to each other for life!

May the Lord cause you to find LOVE EXTRAVAGANT because HE IS LOVE!

THE BLEEDING ISSUES

Luke 8:43-44 And a woman was there who been subject to BLEEDING FOR TWELVE YEARS, but no-one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and IMMEDIATELY HER BLEEDING STOPPED.

Every woman can agree with me on this one. The first sign that one is ready for motherhood comes when a woman receives her first menstrual discharge, which occurs frequently in early teen years. And while it is one thing to bleed between 3-7 days a month, it is another to go through a 24/7 cycle for an agonizing twelve years…Yes, TWELVE PAINSTAKING

MARK YOUR TERRITORY

This morning the Lord just put these three words in my heart, “MARK YOUR TERRITORY.”

Before one starts to build, they sit down and count the cost. Before one sets out on a journey, they gather information about their destination. In both cases, it is needful…if not necessary to get all the information at your disposal in order to start and finish well. But something happens…when THE PROMISE-GIVER comes and tells you to GET READY to cross over to the other side. And this morning the Lord came to tell me to get ready. It is time for me and my family to cross the Jordan. These words came alive today.

Joshua 1:3-5 I will give you EVERY PLACE WHERE YOU SET YOUR FEET, as I promised Moses. YOUR TERRITORY will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates – all the Hittites country – to the Great Sea. No-one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.

I don’t know about you…but I am getting READY TO MARK MY TERRITORY…and that is, FOR LIFE!!!!

EVERY WOMAN HAS A MINISTRY

Matthew 27:55 -56 MANY WOMEN were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to CARE FOR HIS NEEDS. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

We live in the era of GENDER EQUALITY. Women, just like men want to be recognized as equal partners and players in the development of our societies. And while this century has given women the opportunity to prove themselves in different fields, there is a place for the woman which has not changed over the years. Yes, each woman no matter what they are professionally has a MINISTRY. And this is every more true for the CHRISTIAN WOMAN. Below are just but a few ministry callings in the bible which are still relevant and necessary for today’s woman.

TOXIC LOVE: SAMSON AND DELILAH

Judges 16:15-16 Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you, ‘when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your strength. With such nagging she prodded him day by day until HE WAS TIRED TO DEATH.

We say a drunkard is intoxicated when they have overused an alcoholic drink. In other words, they have lost control of clear thinking or proper evaluation in a matter. An intoxicated person cannot conduct a sound conversation and is most likely unable to make even and steady steps. And more often than not, a drunkard becomes morally corrupt in their intoxicated state. In the same way, one can also be intoxicated in love. INFATUATION IS A FORM OF INTOXICATION. Therefore, toxic love is love that is wrongfully asserted.

Let’s have a look at Samson and Delilah’s love story. Samson was born in an era when the children of Israel were led by a judge. In other words, Samson was a judge in his time. That meant, he was responsible for the wellbeing of the Israelites as a whole. As a judge, it was demanded

THE WORD

2 Timothy 3:16 ALL SCRIPTURE is GOD-BREATHED and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I am a woman of THE WORD. In other words, I believe the bible is the one and only accurate source of God’s revelation of Himself to man. I believe that faith comes by hearing, and by hearing the WORD OF GOD. I don’t know about you, but the Word is my source of joy, comfort, peace and assurance in this life and in the life eternal. Below are just a few verse that reminds us, who and what THE WORD is.

A LETTER FROM GOD

1 Corinthians 7:32, 34 I would like you to be free from concern. An UNMARRIED man is concerned about the Lord’s affair – how he can please the Lord. …An unmarried woman or VIRGIN is concerned about the Lord’s affairs; Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.

Years ago, I came across this letter in a Christian book which truly blessed my heart and hope will bless yours too.

Everyone longs to give himself or herself to someone; to have a deep soul relationship with another…to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But to the CHRISTIAN, God says, “NO, not yet; not without being loved by ME alone; with giving yourself totally and unreservedly to me – to having an intensely personal and unique relationship with ME alone.”

I love you, My child, and until you discover that your satisfaction is to be found only in ME, you will not be capable of the perfect human relationship I have planned for you. You will not be unified with each other until you are united with me exclusively. I want you to stop; stop wishing, stop planning and allow me to give you the most thrilling plan in existence, the one that you can’t imagine.

I want you to have the BEST. Please allow ME to bring it to you… Just keep watching, expecting the greatest things. Keep expecting that satisfaction, knowing that I AM. Don’t be anxious. Don’t worry . Don’t look around at the things you think you want. You just keep looking away and up to ME, or you will miss what I have to show you.

Then when you are ready, I will surprise you with love more exciting and wonderful than any you could ever dream of. You see, until you are ready – I am working this minute to have you both ready at the same time – until you are both ready, you won’t be able to experience the LOVE that amplifies your relationship with ME, and to enjoy the everlasting union of beauty and perfection and love I offer you with yourself.

KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU UTTERLY. I AM GOD ALMIGHTY. BELIEVE ME AND BE SATISFIED.

This letter saved my life and I believe it can save yours….KEEP YOUR EYES ABOVE!