Friend: “I’m fine”

Hey there this is a new week with new opportunities. May God bless you and that you’ll find favour in the sight of God and men. Today I’m going to talk about friends (friendship), it could be the next upcoming  series but for now just this one topic. Today’s topic is ” I’m fine “.

Sometimes we find ourself in a pit, in  a condition where we need help. We need people to carry us to Jesus, so that He can forgive us (again) and heal us from our  lameness. There is a remarkable story being told in the bible about a man that was paralyzed.

Mark 2:1-3 “A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. ² They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. ³ Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them” . 

Some men came (four of them), assuming they were his friends, they came carrying the paralyzed man. First off all they knew the man, the knew his condition and together they knew he needs Jesus. So even the people had gathered in large numbers and the fact that there was no room left, not even outside the door, it didn’t stop them.

I must say I’m very happy with my surroundings. My husband covers me as I cover him. I have friends “Sisters” that know me for who I am and they are willing to stand by me whatever it takes. We cover each other in prayer, when we need to say something that may have hurt or we just didn’t like the way something happened, it doesn’t make us feel offended by it or less. We forgive, we seek options, we talk things through and we move one. We grow closer. We don’t just give up on the friendship because we didn’t like certain things. Everyday we have we get know each other better and know how every character is. I’m happy with leaders that will cover me in prayer and hear me out as I cover them in prayer and hear them out. (I guess I needed to get this part out as well) But coming back to the main topic the bible continues saying in

Mark 2:4-5 “⁴ Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. ⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

So these four men made an opening in the roof and then lowered the mat the man was laying on. Again the recognised the condition there friend was in, they knew they couldn’t do nothing but to bring him to Jesus. The text says when Jesus saw their faith.. meaning that He didn’t see the paralyzed man his faith but all of them who were their with him. So this man is making an entrance through to roof thanks to his friends and now the continuation..

Mark 2:6-12 “⁶ Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ⁷ “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

⁸ Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? ⁹ Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? ¹⁰ But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, ¹¹ “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” ¹² He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

There will always be critic, you see Jesus was explaining Himself to the teachers, clarifying their thoughts! And the text continuing by saying that Jesus told the man to get up, to take his mat and to go home. And the man did all what Jesus commanded him an walked out in full view of them all. Everyone amazed and now praising God.

I love this story because:

• Entrance: the man was lowered through to roof, because he was paralyzed. He couldn’t do it himself and needed friends who can bring him somewhere.
• Exit: He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. (You see first he needed help but now he is fine. He can carry the mat himself
  

  “The mat used to carry me in, but now I am getting up and will carry it out.”

• Entrance: He needed his friends to help him get to Jesus
• Exit: Now he is fine, he doesn’t need help.
  

  “I need to be able to tell you I’m fine, without you getting offended by it”

This story could’ve be completely different if the friends were in the same condition as the paralyzed man. Who would’ve carry whom. None of them would have been able to help one and other.

When look at the process of the hospital;

• It starts by you getting checked in  (by loved ones, people that care about your health),
• The second thing you know you are being placed into a room with other sick patience and on that floor we are all sick.

Therefore you have nurses and doctors that are trying their very hard best to help you out of the condition you are in and up to your feed so you can get checked out and go home. It will cost the hospital a lot if you stay in for a long time, it may also cost another their life cause there is no place to check them in. So if we are sick and gather with sick people we are just a group of sick people. After a while it becomes normal that everyone associated to that group is someone with any kind of sickness

• So that is why the final step is to get you in a good condition where you go home and be checked out of the hospital.

It is proven that if people are in environment where they feel at home they tend to get well faster or live longer than to stay into the hospital.

But to come back to the point where you to have friends that are able to set aside differences and needs to see you of good. And when you are good you now can help others get well as well.

It is not for nothing that Psalms 1:1 says “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,..”

It is very important to know who you are connected to, what they can bring to the table! You need to be yourself while with them without it comprising the fact that when you need to speak up you can’t really say what is on your because it may affect the relationship. If we are friends and I can’t tell you about something that doesn’t fit, why we are friends than? It’s a question that needs to be considerate in every relationship.

Often you see in films and movies if an operation has been compromised that they need the abort the mission. In this case the Chief Commander is God and if you need to say something and you can’t because of the consequences you need to rethink the position you are in and abort the friendship. You are being held back and can’t grow and move forward like this. Sometimes it is necessary to let some people go, they fulfilled their purpose in your life.

If I can say something to you, without it making you quit me , you aren’t for me. And if I can’t correct you without you leaving me, you aren’t for me.

“Don’t hold on unto someone that wasn’t supposed to stay in your life forever.”

Are just going to keep on weeping on what was and isn’t or will you walk with what is?

“Don’t mourn longer than you need to. Move on..”

God has a plan and purpose for you (Jeremiah 29:11 “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”🙂 and it may notplay out the way you expected it. But remember Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.”

Thank God for friendship!

God bless you and keep you.

Shaina Li Domitilia- Margaritha

Silence

Hey there todays writing will be short.

I just want to zoom in on the fact that people can get hurt by helping and investing (spiritual or financial) in others. Now don’t get me wrong at all time you need to help your brothers and sisters out. You see sometimes you can invest a lot of time in a person it seems like he is getting it and turns out doing the opposite (disappointment). Of course this person is hurt and is thinking “I should’ve listen” but it is to late and comes back at you asking for your help. Now this is not the first time, it happened a numerous of time before. You are also hurt or maybe even upset  cause this person didn’t listen to what you were saying. Though the question still remains, “what would you do, what should I do, what does the word say” etc.. What will your answer be? Sometimes it better to keep silent and pray for a person than to spend hours of counsel/advice. By praying you are also helping the person, cause they need clarity to see and hear from God for themselves.

Silence !!

Matthew 7:6 “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”

Sometimes you can feel exhausted, drained spiritually and without a clue were it is coming from. Research the ground where you’ve been investing. Is it worth the time?

Be blessed.

ShainaLiMargaritha

Rise above

God bless you,

Today I’m writing about a matter that’s been addressed to me by the saints of God. The building of gathering is not the church, as different as we are and as unique as we were created, together we form the church. When something happens to you and you don’t like it pray about it, be the change and rise above it.

Examples: whenever there is a conflict (of interest) I keep calm, I pray and I ask God to help me. Don’t judge sometimes I get addressed in a certain way, that other people question themselves why do I accept that. (with attitude or a poor language) And as in my turn I don’t reply in the same way, I keep calm and address the issue as the bible puts it with peace, gentleness and self-control Galatians 5:22 This doesn’t mean I don’t get angry but I don’t act out of anger I pray that God’s power and Holy Spirit can change the situations and my feelings that I have at the time. By saying this whenever people approach you in a certain way it does not have anything to do with you but everything to do with the condition of the other party involved. 

When feelings come up you need to analyse is this coming from God or is this coming from my own human flesh and desires. Peoples actions can affect you but it can’t separate you from God’s love. In some experiences you can choose to see to good perspective or the bad (I choose to see the good). If you focus on the bad only bad decision and actions will proceed. I quoted a while ago, “People see faults and flaws in others whenever they become a threat to their own life”. 

There is no reason in church that can stop me from going to church, lets say:

• If people don’t like you, be happy you are different, not everybody has to like you, as it is for you love them with the love of God don’t be move by the fact that they don’t like you.
• If people have a poor way to speak to you, don’t be moved by their action or address in the same way, rise above and address it with peace, love, kindness and self-control.
• If you feel used by others, don’t worry, God will see your effort He will reward you for your work, as it is for you see the matter that you are called to serve others. You are doing good by God.
• In everything you do be humble, don’t be moved by people, be guided by the Holy Spirit. None of those mentioned things above are a reason to leave the church. You need to be the example. You need to be the light. God will reveal everything in His proper time. Whenever you’ve been wronged, forgive each other and keep moving forward. Don’t spin backwards and hold grudges.

The bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:8-11: ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 

This means in order for people to see Christ through you, you need to pay the price. You will experience things, but don’t harden your heart. Pray and let God reveal His plan and purpose for you in the matter. Opinion of others can not cause you to stop doing what God has called you to do. Keep pressing, rise above everything that is holding you back.

I pray that God’s power and Holy Spirit will change and reveal to you the reason why you are experiencing these things. God is ready for your next level are you?

Be blessed.

ShainaLiMargaritha

Ministry: It’s a process!

Good morning,

Todays writing will be taken out of Luke 2:40 and 1 Samuel 2:26. In both scripture the bible says the Child/child grew and became strong; He/he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on Him/him. Now Luke is talking about Jesus and and the first book of Samuel is talking about Samuel and his childhood. To be a minister of God takes process and will always be process. To be a minister of God means serve the people of God. You are never outlearned, you follow the commands of God, obedience is a great key to being a minister, you need to live Holy in all your ways, you have the responsibility to care for the sheep God entrusted you with. There are 5 essential keys to be a minister of God. 1) You need to be born of God (this means being baptised by water and baptised by the Holy Spirit), 2) you need to be called, 3) you need to be prepared, 4) you need to be ordained and last but not least you need to be 5) send to do the work.

First example out of the scripture: Samuel.

As you Hannah was married to Elkanah who was also married to Penninah. Penninah had childeren but Hannah didn’t her womb was closed. She couldn’t bear a child, but she knew someone who can grant her the petition she had. Hannah prayed (1 Samuel 1:10- 12). Hannah was granted the petition of her heart, the scripture says the Lord remembered her (1 Samuel 1: 19-20). Hannah brought the child to Eli who was the priest of the temple and left him there (1 Samuel 1:27-28). – Samuel was born out of God, Hannah says because I asked God for him, a woman who could’t conceive carried a child then presented him to the Lord. In 1 Samuel 2:18 we see the child served before the Lord in verse 21 ..and this boy Samuel grew before the Lord – being prepared and gaining wisdom. In vs 26 you can read “And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.” In 1 Samuel 3 you can read about the calling of this young boy. Samuel slept in the temple vs. 3. The scripture says in vs. 7 that Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. God called Samuel now for three times each time he woke an went to Eli and says to Eli “Here I am, you called me” at that point Eli realises that God has been calling Samuel. He commands Samuel the following: “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” In vs. 19-21 the scripture says The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and He let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognised that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord (ordained). The Lord continued to appear himself to Samuel through His word. During this time till the installation of Saul as King following the request of Israel Samuel was the prophet that was sharing the word of God that came to him. The sending part is when God says to Him that he need to anoint David after God rejected Saul as king (1 Samuel 15). In chapter 16 you can read vs. 1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” So Samuel served the people of God, he interceded for them, he was the mediator between the Israel and God. 

These 5 essential keys are the same for David. David was anointed as king, but after being anointed he went back to his life and served some more. He served Saul by playing a string instrument because Saul was being tormented by an impure spirit. David went against Goliath. Th story of David keeps on growing. You see God doesn’t choose people that are prepared, He prepares the ones He has chosen. Being a minister is not about power, position, titles and being served by the people but rather it is to serve to people of God.

There is nothing better then being in the place God called, prepared and send you to be. There is a difference by being appointed by man and being called and chosen by God. There is general calling that we should go and make all nations his disciples. Even this general part requires that we are prepared. The disciples had been chosen by Jesus, they been thought by Jesus, they experienced the wonders for themselves. Mark 16:16-20: in vs. 16 you can read the commandment and in vs. 20 you can read that the Lord worked with them and confirmed His word by the signs that accompanied it. The church is intended to help people, the people need to grow they need to become disciples as the disciples Jesus has chosen, they need to become ambassadors of the Kingdom and help pass the Word on. Now a days there are people being conditioned to stay in the condition of their past, their is no growth cause they are being fed with milk, others sitting out their punishment and feeling guilty over and over again. It is sad to see people in church that are broken with no liberty to speek up cause they are afraid of ending up even more broken. People considering leaving the church others confused and others doubting their self cause it seems that the world knows the word better than we calling ourself Christians and followers of Jesus.

Second example out of the scripture: Jesus (the Savior)

1) Jesus was born by God, the Holy Spirit. The bible says in Matthew 1:18,20

• She was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit
• What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit
• Jesus has been baptised by water through John the Baptist (Matthew 3:16)
• Jesus has been baptised by the Holy spirit soon after He was baptised by water
• “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.”

2) Jesus is called by God, Jesus is the Son of God there is no higher calling. People had been waiting for Him to be born before Jesus was even conceived. It had been prophesied that Jesus the Lamb of God, this means that through Him we might receive salvation. God predestined the moment John 1:1- 5.

3)  Prepared: At the age of 12 Jesus was found  in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.  Luke 2:46 And Jesus asked His parents why they were searching for Him and giving the answer Himself he replied: “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” Luke 2:50.

4) Ordained. John the Baptist only went before Jesus but knew that the one Jesus was greater. Jesus was send by God.

5) Send, John 3:16 is an example but through the whole New Testament we can read about all the things Jesus did while here on earth

Matthew 20:26,28

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,..” “ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”

The concept of going to church is to serve others, it means to serve before men, to serve people. In doing so the Father will be glorified. All the glory and honor comes to the Lord.

Human being is a fragile species, most things are based on feelings, acceptance, recognition. People need to feel that they appreciated for the work they do, that they matter. People need to feel accepted in order to open up and to show their real self. They need to be recognise for the person they are and the abilities they have. Treat others as you want them to treat you.

The church members only reflect the kind of teaching and guidance they are getting. We all need guidance and we all need wisdom and insight of the Holy Spirit.

Pardon my long writing for the day but is necessary that saints are being equipped and developed into the man and woman God called them to be. It does not happen overnight and we are certainly never outlearned. God has a lot in store things our mind can even begin to wonder about. God surprise people.

God bless you. Remembering that through Jesus we now have the access to God His presence.

ShainaLiMargaritha

God’s plan!

Good morning God bless you,

Today I’m starting with the scripture Jeremiah 29:11 “ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” The Lord wants to prosper you, He doesn’t want to harm you, He wants you to hope in Him and He has a future for you. It is the Lord that is planning to do all these for you. Sometimes you may go through difficult times, it feels like their is a drought in your life a emptiness but let me tell you, God is able to cause rain to fall in the dried place, He is able to fill that emptiness. Maybe you want to hear God speak to you and it seems so quite, know God is working on your behalf.

See God cause you to sacrifice things so He can bless and give you more. Abraham needed to sacrifice his son Isaac, the sacrifice happened in his heart. God made Abraham father to nations.

Job lost everything all he possessed, his family all was lost but later God blessed him twice more than before. You see sometimes before experiencing a financial breakthrough there seems to be a big drought before God blesses you in the way He is gonna do. Maybe it’s not a financial breakthrough you need but a total recovery in your health, even so God can prosper you. Hope in the Lord.

Every time there is a shifting coming it requires you to sacrifice things, it causes you to fight even bigger demons than you’ve already conquered.  Every time you need to loose somethings to gain better things God has in store for you.

Recently I lost a friend, the situation cost me a lot of pain and I thought God if it is this what you want so be it. I was hurt and didn’t understand at the time what was happening. I thought I was wrong. But then it came to me, sometimes you may face opposition not because you are doing something wrong but because you are doing something right. Sometimes when a shift is coming it causes you to loose some people because the place where God is taking you not everyone can come along with you. It may hurt at the time but know that God never intended to harm you it is all a process for where God is bringing you.

The word says those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31). Now it may feel you have no strength left and that your spiritual armour is warn out, but the Lord will renew your strength when you hope in Him. You may be tired but keep pressing on, those who quit are just quitters but those who press on will be victorious.

For a second here let’s talk about Judas the one who betrayed Jesus with a kiss. It may sound strange but thank God for him, because without him there wouldn’t be a betrayal, without betrayal there wouldn’t be crucifixion, without crucifixion there wouldn’t be the death of Jesus and without the death of Jesus there wouldn’t be a resurrection. And it is through this resurrection that I am assured that I will have life and life in abundance through Him.  That my future is secure in the hands of the Lord that holds the whole creation in the palm of His hands.

You see we can plan a lot of things but only the plans of the Lord will prosper.

Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Psalm 33:10-11 “The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”

I hope you will be blessed by this writing. Be empowered by the Holy Spirit of God.

Blessings,

ShainaLiMargaritha