Pause, Listen, Balance, And Stay Focused.

Once upon a time, my agenda was snow-white. The occasional specks of ink on my agenda were mainly activities relating to keeping me alive—hospital appointments, physiotherapy and home care. That is now history of past events. It is no longer breaking news that Irene’s plate is always fully loaded these days. Hence my absence from the blogosphere over the past three weeks.

The run-up to the Hit The Street For Their Feet Charity Walk on April 25^th was hectic. It left me breathless. I have not had time to catch my breath since then. All the donations coming from across three continents had to be acknowledged and receipted irrespective of the amount because each of them made a difference and added value taking us to our set goal. I am so grateful to God that I have much to acknowledge. The administrative part of the Charity is still ongoing.

It was in the midst of that that I realized that I had only thirty days (now seventeen) left to the wedding of the dear daughter of Zion who God used to support me during the year post my amputation. She cared for me and attended to my needs during those early days while I learnt to regain my autonomy and to get accustomed to my new definition of normal as an amputee. She has been a blessing to me. I had committed to help translate her dream to reality and time was fast running out. I was in overdrive now.

Alongside came the preparations for the Annual Conference, which took place in my church last weekend. While we were getting ready, I had to go for a surgery to correct what the doctors termed “a rare form of adhesion” which got my tracheotomy scar stuck to my trachea. It was a day surgery. I was back in my kitchen barely 3 hours after the surgery. But it was a restless and rather painful night afterward and has required a twice a week trip to the hospital to keep an eye on it.

In the midst of all these, my accountability partners and very concerned friends were keeping a tab on me. They wanted to know where I was, regarding my pending assignments—completion of my book and getting the Feet Of Grace website running to name a few. And the pressure mounted.

That was when I had to pause. I needed to take a deep breath. I was feeling overwhelmed and overcharged. I have a passionate aversion to idleness with a relentless drive for purpose, perfection and making a difference. It appears that this combination has pushed me to the other side of the spectrum.

The outlook for the next four months seems even more charged with several planned travels, ministry project and pending Ministry training assignments. It was the time for me to pause and listen.

I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens, empowers and infuses me with strength from His limitless stores. But I am not called to do everything.

Having a clear guidance and direction from God as to what He wants me to do, when, where and how He wants me to do the things He has called me to do has become an imperative. I must pause and listen. If I am not quiet, I cannot hear Him speaking to me. It is only when I am getting instructions from Him that I can balance all the many balls that I have to juggle in the air. It is only by His grace that I can do the things He has called me to do. I need to pause, listen and balance.

I know God also has a deep aversion to idleness. Several passages in the Bible points in that direction.

"And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day long?'” – Matthew 20:6

“"The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat." – 2Thess. 3:10

“You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,” – 1Thess 4:11

I also know that God does not want me to burn out or run on my own steam, I cannot be useful to Him that way. Therefore, I must insert precious times of rest into the equation.

Several key points shone brightly like a lighthouse on a dark night as I processed all the above.  I will share some of them with you.

1.       I have to learn to say NO:

If I am going to stay focused on the goal and accomplish the tasks God laid on my heart for this year, I have to give myself the permission to say No. First to myself and then to others. A young man challenged me recently to master the art of No in an excellent article he posted on his blog - The Art of No. It is not just about saying No but how to manage a No response. What do I mean by saying no to myself? I mean I cannot do everything that comes to my mind even if it sounds great and will benefit someone.

2.        I need to prioritize:

Some tasks are important, but they are not urgent. Some things that God calls us to do are urgent and important because someone is waiting at the other side to receive of it. I cannot afford to be lackadaisical about the things that are important in God’s kingdom agenda. The fact that He has not issued a deadline the way my bosses at work would do does not mean that I can do my God-ordained assignments at my convenience.

3.       Ultimately, my accountability is to God:

God has called me to be a good steward of the resources He has assigned to me to manage. These include the talents, gifts and abilities with which He endowed me. As a steward of God’s resources, there will come a time I much give an account of what I have done with these resources. As well as how I have fared with the responsibilities and tasks He assigned to me. Doing His will and fulfilling His call upon my life requires my utmost attention and dedication.

God’s all-sufficient grace is available and richly abounding to each of us so that we having all sufficiency in all things and at all times may abound to every good work. I want to abound in good works. My earnest desire is to impact lives for good, make a difference and leave a lasting legacy. I must, therefore, run the race set before me tapping into the rich grace available to me and with my gaze focused on the ultimate goal.

Over the coming months, I will do my best to keep this space we share together to enrich and encourage one another active while I strive to maintain a balance in my responsibilities and commitments. There will be guest posts here, and I hope to see the blog relocate to the Feet Of Grace website as soon as it is up. In the interim, I ask you to uphold me in prayers; that I may have strength to do what I am called can do, courage to accept those that I cannot do and the wisdom to know the difference. Pray also that God will send me help fitted for this assignment.

I pray that each of you will flourish in the place where God has assigned you.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed with so many things to do? Share and let's encourage one another.

The Conceit of Idleness

In 2003, I took time off work on health grounds and also to assist my sons adjust to their new environment – we had just relocated to Geneva. Coming away from a full-day loaded agenda to a flexible home management schedule, my friends thought I would not last 3 months. I was too active to be home-bound.  I did survive one year before I got restless. The boys did not need me as much as they used to do. I could not make the house cleaner. The wheels were running smoothly. I was involved in the Parents activities in the school but it was not enough to keep me busy. And I felt a strong urge to be able to contribute to the family income again. There was no where I needed to be or where I would be missed if I did not show up.

I did a stint of marketing food supplements for those watching their weight. I did an even longer stint of marketing beauty and face cleansing products. I even volunteered to work pro bono at the Nutrition Department of an International Organization in my city. While all of these did not generate the kind of income I needed, they kept me gainfully engaged.

Recently, a Sista-friend shared with me her concerns about a mutual friend who has been out of work for a long while, and was unwilling to accept a position offered him. He claimed that the position was beneath him. He had set a standard of the kind of job he was willing to do and it was either that or a “big time” business. He was not willing to settle for anything less. I was aghast, shocked at his adamant position. He has a young family to support, bills to be paid were mounting up plus debt to be settled. The situation was simply beyond my comprehension.

Is this faith, or foolishness or simply being presumptuous?

Or am I the one with the problem here? So I went in search of what the Bible says about being unwilling to work.

The Bible warned us in very strong terms against idleness. “…Work with your hands” (1Thess 4:11).

“…The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat” (2Thess. 3:10).

If anyone is not willing to work then he is not to eat either. Such as could work but would not work should not be maintained in idleness. As children of God we must be creative, productive and action-oriented like our God. The Bible recorded that God worked for 6 days before He rested from His work on the 7^th day.

“Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need” (Eph. 4:28).

The point is that there must be a willingness and eagerness to work, and to take action to accomplish something even if it appears for the moment that nothing is happening or there is no dividend.

If there is a willingness to work and there is yet to be an opportunity, the individual will keep seeking, he will get up every morning and go out in search of something to do. He will not sit back at home idle. He will be willing to exert himself and go the extra mile to make a living.

 

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Paul demonstrated that hard work is essential even though he had the right to depend on the people since he was ministering to them. He said “we were not idle when we were with you. On the contrary, we worked day and night, laboring and toiling, so that we are not a burden to you…” (2Thess. 3:7, 8).

Those who are not busy, who live lazy and idle lives, walk irresponsibly and become busy bodies. With much times on their hands, they meddle in other people’s business and interfere in the lives of others. They go about talking nonsense, saying things they ought not to. Devil will find work for idle hands.

Idle people, because of their laziness and slothfulness, reduce themselves to become a great burden on their families, friends and the church, depending on the bounty of others. They also deprive those who are truly in need access to the limited resources available. Those who are diligent in their business and earn a living, have great pleasure in doing it, and they are also able to contribute to helping those in need.

Idleness is productive of misery. “Keep away from everyone who is idle and disruptive” (2Thess. 3:6).

Busybodies denotes being busy with useless, superfluous and unproductive things, that is, to be occupied with trifles. But man was created by God to be an active, productive and creative creature, made for work and business.

Those who believe that some activities, chores or jobs are beneath them remain rooted at the same spot. They want the big-bang, they are waiting for a windfall or the beyond-imagination, which will propel them straight to the top. They don't want to do the hard work of building. So they wait and wait, and while they are waiting, they complain, grumble and blame everyone but themselves for their situation. They refuse to take responsibility for their inaction.

Inevitably, those waiting for a windfall or open heaven will likely miss it because they are not at the right place at the right time to receive the windfall or open heaven when it comes. They are too lazy to move from the spot where they are rooted.

While we are waiting for ours dream to be fulfilled, we need to keep ourselves gainfully preoccupied, building a strong foundation, improving our skills, acquiring new and relevant knowledge, and preparing for our dream to come to pass.

“Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). They took action which demonstrated their faith in God. Their works put their faith in God on display. They did not just speak or talk about their faith and trust in God but they took steps/actions which demonstrated that they trusted God to act on their behalf.

I know that God does not despise the days of small beginnings. And I know that he who is faithful in small things, to him more is given. God has promised to enlarge our coast.

As Christians, we should demonstrate a high standard of integrity, excellence and diligence in all we set our hands upon to do. Knowing that we stand as God’s ambassadors in whatever area of influence God has given us. We are the salt of the earth there and the light beacon directing others to Christ. We should be examples of those who demonstrate a high standard of responsible work ethics in our vocation and calling.

If we can work and are unwilling to do so, we miss opportunities to have the glory of God put on display in our lives at the workplace or market place, and we also miss opportunity to attract others to Christ when they see His good works in us.

It is a good thing to leave a godly heritage for our children and not just wealth. The sure way to do so is by teaching them the value of hard work and of working in the consciousness of God.

Gina Rinehart, an Australian mining heiress, will not leave her wealth to her children because she noted that they have not “developed the requisite skills, capacity, experience and responsible work ethics to manage wealth.” Gene Simmons wants his children to “be forced to get out of bed, go out, work and earn a living.” These are two of the wealthiest people in the world who would not leave their fortunes to their children.

Christianity does not take us from the work and duty of our calling or vocation, but it teaches us to be diligent in it. It is a responsible thing to encourage others to work and when positioned to do so, we should create opportunities for others to be gainfully engaged.

There is a difference between those who cannot work and those who would not work. Those who cannot work as a result of weakness, handicap, illness and old age should be provided for by the body of Christ, their families and government.

The Proverbs 31 woman is my standard of a hardworking, industrious, multi-tasking and God-fearing woman. She does not eat the bread of idleness. She taught me that I can be constructively engaged no matter what my circumstances may be. Dreams don’t get fulfilled neither can we walk in the fullness of our calling if we are idle and unwilling to start “small.”

Be encouraged to start something today. Take a step forward, it will take you towards living your dream. 

In Need Of Nothing

He put a new song in my mouth to sing.

That was what happened to me a few days ago. During my time of praise and worship, I found myself singing a new song - the words were forming and I had music to go with it. I paused in my worship and recorded the song as I have learnt from experience that I may not be able to recall the song again.

You are God all alone

You are God on Your own

You are all sufficient in Yourself

You did not need me to praise You

Yet You created me for Your pleasure

I am honoured Lord,

that You chose to share Yourself with me

You were not hungry for company

You are complete in Yourself

You are perfect in Your glory

But You chose to confer Your glory on me

I am honoured Lord

That You chose to share Yourself with me

I was overwhelmed the previous night when I read The Solitariness of God in the book -  The Attributes of God written by A.W. Pink. It was profound to note that "God is solitary in His majesty, unique in His excellency, peerless in His perfections. He sustains all, but Himself independent of all. He gives to all but is enriched by none."

"God was under no constraint, no obligation, no necessity to create. That He chose to do so was purely a sovereign act on His part, caused by nothing outside Himself, determined by nothing but His mere good pleasure" - A.W. Pink.

As golden beams of sunlight piercing the dark blue twilight sky announces the arrival of a new day, the brilliance of this truth illuminated my heart, and it dawned on me— God is not in need of anything I can bring. He is all sufficient in Himself.

"God is sufficient unto Himself.

He requires nothing outside Himself to exist or to be happy"

- Michael J. Cummings.

The more I meditated on this truth, the more I was awed at the magnanimity of God. He chose to create me simply to manifest His nature of love. He chose to bestow manifold gifts and blessings on me simply to display His exceedingly generous and liberal nature.

We were chosen in advance before the foundation of the world, according to the plan of Him Who works everything in conformity with the purpose of His will. We were created according to the good pleasure of His will. God chose us for His praise and glory out of His free will (Eph. 1: 5, 11).

He stooped down to share Himself with us. He condescended to confer His glory on us.

Meditating on the self-sufficiency of God has to lead to shift in our attitude—we are not doing God a favour serving Him or giving towards His work. God is the One Who gave us gifts, so giving them back to Him would be like bringing sand to the beach. Therefore, it should be an act of worship to serve Him with the gifts and talents He has graciously bestowed on us. It should be considered a honour and a privilege to bring back to God out of the overflowing blessings He richly and daily pour into our lives. His mercies are new every morning.

I can not but give to God cheerfully.

I can not but serve Him to the best of my ability

What does this mean for us?

Knowing that God in His infinite wisdom and love stoop down to share Himself with us is humbling. It is overwhelming. It calls for a worshipful response. I can say with David, "what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?" (Ps 8:4). And with Job, "what is people, that You should make so much of us, that You should think of us so often?" (Job 7:17).

We are not serving a needy God or a God Who lacks something He needs us to fulfil. He is perfect and complete all by Himself. We are serving a God Who has chosen to put His glory on display in our lives. This revelation took my worship and adoration of God to another level.

An excellent spirit has to be seen in us as we use our talents and gifts to serve God and the people around us. We can not be lazy servants or shoddy workers or people who hide our talents in the ground. We represent God Who is vast and glorious yet He chose to confer such honour on us as to call us His own. This must be reflected in the way we discharge our duties and in the way we use the gifts and talents He blessed us with.

"God doth not need, either man's work or his own gift…"

- John Milton

God judges a man on whether they labour for Him to the best of their ability. John Milton expressed this in his Sonnet XIV - On His Blindness. He declared that not one talent will lodge with him useless in his grave, he was becoming blind when he wrote this poem. His greatest works were written after he became blind.

It is my earnest desire and prayer that we find, develop and use every talent and gift that God has graciously endowed us with, for His glory and for His honour. So that not one talent will lodge with us useless when our work here on earth is done.

Now, I have a better appreciation and a deeper understanding of the message expressed in William McDowell's song - You are God Alone.

It is uplifting for me to know that the God I serve is in need of nothing. But He is sufficient for all my needs. Without Him, I am imperfect, always lacking in something. In Him, I am made complete.

What does it mean to you to know that God is all-sufficient in Himself? Share with us in the comment box below.

I share with you the song - You are God Alone

Matchless In Details

"He made two cherubim of wild olive wood, each 15 feet tall, and placed them in the inner sanctuary. The wingspan of each of the cherubim was 15 feet, each wing being 71/2 feet long.

The two cherubim were identical in shape and size; each was 15 feet tall.

He placed them side by side in the inner sanctuary of the Temple.

Their outspread wings reached from wall to wall, while their inner wings touched at the center of the room.

 He overlaid the two cherubim with gold" - 1Kings 6: 23-28.

This was a part of the description of the Temple built by Solomon. Several elements in the description caught and hooked my attention—my imagination was fired up as I created a vivid mental picture of the two golden cherubim standing in the sanctuary.

More on the detailed description:

·        It showed the Temple to be made from limestone and cedar.

·        The lavish use of gold overlay.

·        The motif used for decoration - gourds, open flowers, palm trees and cherubim.

·        The building parts were assembled quietly on site. No noise or sound of metal tools was heard.

Attention was given to describing the details of the work done in the temple which enhanced the imagery of the beauty and intricacy of the project. Recording the crafting of the furnishing in such minute detail emphasized the magnificent beauty, symmetry, and the glory of the temple.

Jump back to the Book of Exodus Chapters 25 to 30 and see how God provided detailed instructions for the building of the Tabernacle and its furnishing. The specifications included:

• Types of wood and metals to be used.
• Dimensions and placing of all the items for use in the Tabernacle.
• The fabric for colourful curtains, exquisite tapestry, intricate motifs and embroidery.
• The skilled craftsmen to do the work.

Moses was warned when he was about to start building the Tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain" (Ex. 25:40). And Moses built the tabernacle to specification. He followed the detailed instructions he was given.

The account of both the building of the Tabernacle by Moses and the Temple by Solomon were described in the Bible in details.

From creation to date, there is no haphazardness or tardiness in the dealings of God. He is interested in the details. His doings are well defined and purposeful. God gave detailed instructions and the understanding of the details.

Creativity and Details

God, the Father Almighty, is the Creator of the heavens and earth. He created order out of chaos. He is the God of details. He paid attention to the details when He created exquisitely beautiful things out of nothing.

Observe the wonders of nature—majestic mountains, scenic lakes, vast oceans— and you will marvel at the multiple colours, amazing patterns and unusual animals and plants, which God incorporated.

We are created in His image and in the process, God deposited in us the ability to be creative.

Creativity requires paying attention to details—taking note of intricate, fine and elaborate particulars.

"Opportunity for discovery and creativity comes from digging into details"

- John D. Cook.

As a writer, I learnt that a writing life springs from a creative source. The more I tap into God, the more creative I am. The details I see in the Word of God inspires me to be attentive to give descriptive details in my writing and invoke vivid imagery which will hold the attention of my readers.

Every detail must be addressed with care if you want to create something beautiful and elegant. This has application in every vocation or calling.

Productivity and Details

In this context, it relates to important and significant particulars which ensures that a job or task is performed thoroughly and meticulously to produce an excellent work. It also ensures that the standards specified are followed or achieved. It excludes the trivial elements.

"God is in the details"

- Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886 - 1869)

When God is in the details nothing is overlooked. A mediocre does a shoddy job because he does not give attention to the fine details.

In the building of the Tabernacle, Bezalel and Oholiab were chosen for their skills and artistic craftsmanship. Solomon sent for Huram from Tyre to work on the building of the Temple.

The report given of the work of these men showed that they were excellent skilled workers, they were thorough, and they gave attention to the details.

Whatever our vocation may be, there is an opportunity to produce an excellent work when we use our talents, skills and gifts as unto God.

The goodness of the final product is established by its details.

God and You, and the Details

God, Who did not spare any details in the creation of the universe or the building of the Tabernacle, is interested and concerned about the minute details of our lives. He does not want to be involved in the big issues only but also in the day-to-day small details of our lives.

He wants to be a part of every decision we make. He wants us to check with Him about those small details of everyday life we think we can handle.

I read in my Bedtime Bible Storybook as a child, the story of a young girl who lost her coin. She searched fervently but could not find it. Distressed, she cried to her mother for help, who asked her to pray about it. She did. A short while later, she found the coin, in an unusual place.

The story stayed with me. When I put it to practice, I am amazed how God leads me to find something I lost or to something I needed. This happened many times and in mysterious ways too. There's nothing we can't share with God, nothing too trivial to commit into His hands. If it concerns us, it concerns Him too.

We can rely on God to take care of all the particulars of our lives when we keep Him in the details. And this comes with practice.

How much details of your life do you share with God? He is waiting for you today to make Him a part of all the details of your life. And your life will be enriched as you do so.

P.S.: I apologise for coming late with the blogpost in the last 2 weeks. I am writing under difficult circumstances. More on that soon. God bless you.