Thank you, Lord, that my salvation and victory are not on my shoulders. Many times, this truth may seem hidden, a bit distant. I think myself resourceful, intelligent, capable, resilient, discerning, and wise – all good things, gifts from You. At times, I’m even worldly – knowing the things of this world and the adventures it has to offer. It’s so hard to be in this world and not of the world. The memories and experiences I’ve carried since my birth in this world till now are so tangible, so real.
As You well know, there are times I have wished You were just as tangible. I have wanted to humanise You so I could experience You at my level. To throw my arms around you, to sit across from You and to audibly hear your voice like I used to do with my earthly father are things I’ve cried out to You about. Yet, I recognise that in that desire lies the need to shape you and resize into something my mind could fathom and experience in a way that I know and understand.
If I were to get my wish, You would cease to be the God that you are. Lord, You once said this to people who were perhaps feeling like I’ve felt:
“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor — Counsellor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you],” – John 16:7 AMP.
You could see the bigger picture and knew the greater plan. In light of this, I am very grateful that I do not have to save myself. I cannot lead myself to victory with my limited vision and wisdom. There are many things I do not know or understand about You, about the world, about people, and even about myself. However, none of these things are hidden from You.
The farthest points. The hidden parts. The deepest depths. The very ends of the Earth, Dad, cannot escape or hide from You. Darkness is as light to you. You search and know the depths of my heart and show me compassion. Out of love, you took my place in the seat of the accused. You gave up Your life, and saved me from sin, death and ultimately, from separation from You. You, Sovereign Lord, are my strength! You make me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights (Habakkuk 3:19 NLT).
Thank you, Beloved Saviour, that my freedom today is not based on my actions. My victory comes only from You and what You have done.
I hate being sick. I think everybody does. Unfortunately, I succumbed to a head cold just over a day ago. It started off with some body aches, a general sense of malaise and some nasal congestion in the evening. I had nothing for it but I knew the drill. I planned to go to the pharmacy and get my usual head cold medicine early the next day – yes, usual because I am prone to head colds.
The next morning, I woke up feeling significantly worse. I did some work I couldn’t get away with not doing then decided to take a nap before heading to the pharmacy. Sadly, my body had other ideas. It seemed like it had decided to wage war against me. I had a terrible headache straight from the pits of hell. I couldn’t sneeze or cough without feeling like I’d burst several capillaries. Opening my eyes was an impossible feat and I felt dizzy. I ended up staying in bed pretty much all day.
When I woke up in the evening and still felt terrible, I decided to pray. It was too late to go to the pharmacy and I was having the worst time with no medication in the house. I prayed for my headache to subside and for relief from the aches and pains I was feeling. My prayers were so modest. Luckily, Jesus is anything but frugal in His giving. I didn’t feel the relief the split second I prayed, but I did not have to wait long. My headache subsided and I began to feel a bit better, so I prayed again, and again. Then I felt it. The shift. The difference in how I felt was so marked!
You know, I used to do this all the time. When I would get sick, my first port of call would be to pray for healing. It was so effective. At some point, I stopped doing that so much. After I prayed and felt so much better, I remembered my prayers for healing in the past and I thought, “Oh, Flo! How could you forget to pray?” I caught myself wondering what things I had gone through that I didn’t have to experience if only I had prayed. Thankfully, I also felt a sense of grace. I am learning to treat myself as Jesus would, and He definitely would lovingly remind or convict me instead of admonishing me the way I had been doing.
Today, I finally managed to get to the pharmacy and got some medication. I still feel a bit under the weather. This time though, instead of going through it seemingly alone and hoping for the best, I am putting my hope and trust in God and praying for a full and swift recovery. In fact, I believe it is already done.
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 NLT
Lately, I have been enjoying how God has been using unlikely creatures in the animal kingdom to reveal things, reminders or lessons, if you will. Today, I got a mental picture of a ladybug while I was praying. Naturally, I looked up some facts about ladybugs and have compiled seven Bible-based reminders for daily living from the lovely little ladybug.
Be Useful
Ladybugs eat pests that are harmful to plants such as aphids, and one beetle – yes, ladybugs are beetles – can eat up to 5,000 of these in its lifetime. This is very useful to farmers and makes ladybugs well-loved by them. How can you serve God and others today and everyday like the ladybug? Galatians 6:10, John 9:4
Be an answer to prayer
It is said that ladybugs showed up after farmers prayed for a solution to pests that were ravaging their crops. I think this is noteworthy. Imagine how joyful and blessed those farmers felt after the ladybugs arrived and cleaned up their fields. You can also be a blessing and an answer to prayer, and often, just by simply showing up and being magnificently you. Genesis 12:2, Proverbs 11:25
Be a good planner
Did you know that ladybugs can plan ahead for shortages in their food supply? They are able to eat their eggs – yes, gross – and so, they lay infertile eggs for themselves and for their young to eat when there are shortages. Likewise, be sure to plan ahead under the Lordship, leadership and guidance of God. Proverbs 16:3, Proverbs 24:27
Be colourful – show your true colours
To show your true colours means to reveal your character or to make known what you are really like in nature.
Ladybugs come in a variety of colours and markings. In fact, there are about 5,000 varieties of them and I’m sure you’ve seen how beautiful they are. Let this inspire you to allow God to nurture and build your character then let is shine for the world to enjoy and find inspiration. Galatians 5:22-23, Philippians 4:8, Colossians 3:12-14
Be transformed
Like the dung and other beetles, ladybugs go through a transformation from young to adulthood. As a follower of Christ, you also go through a transformation from spiritual immaturity to maturity as stated in 1 Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” Lean into the transformation God has planned for you. Isaiah 64:8, Romans 12:2
Be vigilant about enemies
The colours of a ladybug, as pleasant as they are, serve a purpose. They deter predators, making them think the beetles are poisonous and no good for eating! You have a natural predator, the devil, and you are to ‘be alert and of sober mind for your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour’ (1 Peter 5:9). Be vigilant against the enemy of your soul. Ephesians 6:10-18, 1 Peter 5:9
Be fruitful and multiply
Ladybugs are found everywhere except the Arctic and in Antarctic. They live in many habitats and adapt to many different conditions. They are quick to mature and are very productive. Emulate the ladybug and be effective and fruitful for it is to your Heavenly Father’s glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourself to be Jesus’ disciple (John 15:8). John 15:4-5, Luke 6:43-45, Genesis 1:28
A vessel without purpose Hands without work A beautiful mind atrophying Something within longing to be birthed Day in day out the clock ticks; it’s all circular Round and round it all goes, starting where you stopped Onwards and upwards, arriving right back where you started
What is the purpose of life? Wading through the muck and the mire Won’t you please remind me What is the point of existence? On and on it goes; it’s all déjà vu Rising to fall to rise again Phoenix from the ashes Methinks the phoenix exists to burn and rise in turn
Hope refuses to die Stubbornly, it rises when it has no reason to Peace grabbed hold of this vessel, won’t let go A soul searching for something beyond itself There has to be much more to it all It refuses to give up much as it wants to It was birthed for something more The soul knows this deep within
Unshakeable hope and peace rising to take a stand But why rise? Why keep putting one foot in front of the other? On and on it goes; it’s all déjà vu Rising to fall to rise again Phoenix from the ashes Methinks this life was set upon a rollercoaster Destined to ride until the clock runs out
Or was it? Was it really? Clock, who are you? What is your power? Destiny, to whom do you answer? Why should a life answer to you? All bow to a greater King, the King of kings He provides a vessel its purpose Hands find their work in Him On and on it goes, into eternity Rising to greater heights, upwards into glory
About the author
Flo Boora
Jesus follower, lover of life, story teller, adventurer, foodie, natural-born motivator, perpetual learner.
Have you ever had a food craving so bad that you can almost taste the thing you’re craving? You see it in your mind’s eye? You practically taste in your mouth? I don’t know. Perhaps, it is just me. I get very specific food cravings sometimes, and worse, at times, it doesn’t go away until the craving is satisfied. That was me yesterday. I’m a sucker for a baked cheesecake on any given day but yesterday, as I lay in bed, I craved for a creamy, decadent, well-baked cheesecake that’s not too sweet or rich but just right.
Today, I decided to spoil myself to a slice. Off I went to a shop near me that sells good cheesecake. When I got there, there were two options, a blueberry cheesecake and what looked like a traditional cheesecake. My interest was in the blueberry cheesecake, however, an unexpected option presented itself – an indulgent-looking chocolate and hazelnut cake. That’s another thing about me. I always want to explore all options before making a choice. If you give me enough choices, trust that I’ll contemplate each one a fair amount.
The restaurant where I was buying the cheesecake is attached to a supermarket, and on weekends, they bring cake from the restaurant into the supermarket to entice shoppers with a discounted price. Instead of just standing there pondering whether I’d stick with the cheesecake or switch to the chocolate cake, I decided to go and buy some other items I needed whilst I was thinking. Sure enough, it didn’t take long for me to decide. It was the cheesecake that had my heart. So, I returned to the cake station ready to make my purchase.
There was only one slice of the cheesecake left. It had my name on it. I had a date with that cake. In front of me was a man buying several slices of the runner-up chocolate cake. I waited patiently for my turn as he changed his mind about how many slices he wanted and the server complied. When he was done, he didn’t move away. I watched as, almost in slow motion, he gestured towards my cake! He was buying it! Well, I suppose I could have just a regular cheesecake, I figured. There he was again, gesturing towards that cake too!!
At that point, I lost it. I couldn’t let him get away with my cheesecake.
“You’re buying them?” I asked. Before he could even respond, the lady behind the counter piped in, “You were here earlier when there were three slices. You should have jumped at the chance but you just had to take time to decide.” She wasn’t being unkind and I knew she was right. I couldn’t focus on her words though. I was determined to save my cake. “Don’t you want a slice of that other amazing cake over there?” I smilingly asked the man. He smiled back and said he didn’t.
I was not deterred. “You know, I’ve been thinking about cheesecake since yesterday,” I tried again, “Don’t you wanna trade for that equally delicious-looking lemon cake?” This time he laughed and gave me a brotherly side-hug. “No, I’m sorry. I want the cheesecake.” I was in disbelief. Did that just happen?! I had just missed out on my cheesecake. “I didn’t want your hug, sir,” I thought to myself, “I wanted your cheesecake!” Luckily though, the lady behind the counter decided to help me out. She explained that because it was New Year’s eve, they hadn’t baked a lot of cheesecake, but, if there was any left in the restaurant, she’d sell it to me for the discounted price.
In the restaurant, they had milk tart cheesecake. I was disappointed. This isn’t the level of decadence I was looking for. If my memory was accurate, I’d had it before and it was a little too rich for my liking. I wanted a citrusy or zesty tang to my cheesecake. The thought of going for the chocolate cake was even less appealing. Yet another thing about me, once I set my mind on something, I don’t change it easily. I wanted cheesecake, so I decided to go with cheesecake even though it wasn’t the flavour I wanted. On the way home, I felt God comforting me. It began to melt my disappointment away.
All at once, I felt silly. There are bigger things going on in the world, and, here I was, overly invested in a cheesecake slice. In that moment, there was God again saying, “It is okay.” I could feel that familiar warmth of His love and presence that feels like the biggest hug enveloping me. I decided that if my Father in heaven cared that I was disappointed about a cheesecake and chose that moment to minister to my soul, I would take it and stop feeling silly. I did pray for my perspective to shift from just me and my immediate circumstances to Him and what He is doing.
“You will enjoy the cheesecake,” I heard God say, not once, but several times as He continued to minister to my soul. I had thought that I would have my cake later in the evening or even tomorrow because I didn’t my disappointment to spoil my enjoyment of it. However, He encouraged me to have it when I got home. Why? “Because you will enjoy it and be blessed,” He said. Life and dreams are a little bit like the cheesecake, aren’t they? Sometimes, you want something so bad. You can see it. You can almost taste it. It has your name practically written on it. And then… You do not get it.
Perhaps, you take your eye off the ball. Perhaps, someone swoops in a little faster than you do. Perhaps, it was just not meant to be. However, God is too good, too generous, too kind and too much of a blesser to ever leave you empty-handed. God is too sovereign and too much of a planner to leave things to chance. Even when you don’t get what you want, God will always give you what you need. Moreover, you will be blessed by it.
I did enjoy that cheesecake, guys, every bite of it. It was just the taste I had dreamed of yesterday and didn’t even realise it.
So, whether it’s something as small and mundane as cheesecake or something as big and life-changing as that dream job or life partner or child of your own, God knows it all. He knows about it, and He cares about it. He cares about you, and He walks with you every step of the way, guiding you even when you don’t realise it. He comforts you when you need it, and He fulfils that dream. Now, it may not always be fulfilled in the way that you wanted or hoped but God will fulfil it and you will be blessed. Just put your trust in Him!
Someone recently asked me about Christmas. What’s the significance? Why do you celebrate it? Is it not just another commercial holiday? Well, for me, Christmas is not just another holiday or a time to rest and spend with loved ones. Though these things are quite important, it’s a whole lot more than that. So, I will try my best to explain why I celebrate Christmas and what it means to me.
Christmas is a celebration of a significant event in history. It is a remembrance of an important birth, one that marks the ushering in of a new era for me and for many believers like me. Approximately 2030 years ago, give or take, a child was born. The exact year and the exact date of His birth is not known though many scholars have estimations on when that would have been. That’s okay because it’s really about a birthday. It’s about celebrating God taking on human form, coming into the world and saving us. More on that in a moment.
One thing that makes this birth significant is that it had been foretold in Scripture at the time, and therefore, was a long-awaited event. One prophet, Isaiah, foretold it in Isaiah 9:6 -7 ESV saying “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end.” Micah, the prophet, foretells the place of birth as well in Micah 5:2 ESV, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”
This Son who was born ushered in a new kingdom – the kingdom of heaven – a kingdom of light instead of darkness; freedom instead of captivity; healing in place of sickness and infirmity; joy and rejoicing in place of sorrow and moaning; abundance in place of lack and spiritual enlightenment and prosperity in place of ignorance and spiritual poverty. In Matthew 11: 5 – 6, Jesus said, “The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” Jesus did and still does heal those who are blind, sick, deaf, sick, and dead, both literally and figuratively. Jesus provides for those in any kind of need.
I have also heard it said that He came into the world to testify about the truth and I believe that. What truth? The truth about who God is, His heart for us and what it takes for us to have a relationship with Him. God is our Father – He created us in His image and we were designed to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to have eternal companionship with Him. He loves us more than we could even understand and wants only good things for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”
At some point, because of sin, we were separated from this friendship with God. Sin is living outside the design of God and choosing to do our own thing or go our own way instead of what God wants for us. The serpent who represents Satan, the enemy of our souls, asked that age-old trick question, “Did God really say…?” He would still have us ask that question today, and it is a trick question because of what that question represents. See, asking questions is not a bad thing. God would have us ask Him anything. It’s the desire and the purpose of the questioning that was problematic.
Several times in the Bible, God invites us to talk it out with Him and to get to know Him. For example, in Isaiah 1:18 we hear, “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” Amos 3:3 BST echoes the same sentiment, “Shall two walk together at all, if they do not know one another?” When the serpent asked if God had really said not to eat the forbidden fruit, he was inviting man to deny God’s authority and rule and choose their own in an attempt to be like God. He still sends out that invitation today, every day – our design and wisdom over God’s.
Now, God takes a very hard stance on sin because it breaks our friendship with Him and has us living as far less than He ever intended us to be. It separates us from God and we incur a penalty for denying God. That penalty is death, and not just literally, but figuratively as well. Many times, I have been asked why I would follow a God who dishes out death and penalties. Here is the thing, God is the author of life and without Him, there can be none. God is peace. He is love. God authored joy and everything good. God wants us to understand that the moment we do not choose Him, we are also turning our back on everything that He personifies.
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” Deuteronomy 30:19 NLT
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord,” Romans 6:23 NLT. So, God sent the only remedy to the problem of sin, His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 14:6 ESV, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” In John 10:9-10 ESV, He says, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Over the centuries, we forgot how we came to live in sin, separated from God. We forgot who we are according to God. Our desire for Him grew cold. Who is He? Does He even exist? Do I need Him? What does it mean for my life to believe in Him. Then, enter in Jesus, the Son of God to answer our questions. Jesus revealed and still reveals the character of God our Father, what His heart for us is and what His plans for our future are. Jesus showed and still shows how God would have us live our lives, what our true identity is in Him, and how to be reconciled with Him in friendship.
When man ate of the forbidden fruit, everything in creation fell under the curse of sin. “Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time,” Romans 8:20-22 NLT. Jesus, being the only perfect person and being God, is able to take on all our sin upon Himself (past, present and future sins) and pay the penalty for sin that we are supposed to pay.
Hebrews 10: 11 – 12 NLT tells us this, “Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honour at God’s right hand.” That is why Christmas is significant to me. It is a day on which followers of Christ have chosen to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ because it marks the beginning of salvation and the end of the hold of death and sin over my life. It is the beginning of a new era! John the Baptist said it aptly in John 1:29 ESV when he said of Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Joyful obedience Is what I yearn for Humble submission For this, I deeply long Grant me these gifts Spirit of the Living God
An audience with my King This is what I need today Intimacy with my Saviour This I exist for every day Grant me these joys daily Lord, lover of my soul
Knowledge of You This is what I search for To love & honour You For that, You created me Bless me with more of these Holy One, my ever-present aid
Life in abundance Full of lavish praise I live to worship You My Beloved, You’re exalted Shower me with more Exceedingly more of You
Companionship without end Transformation into glory These are your promises You are Faithful and True I wait patiently upon you You who my heart loves
About the author
Flo Boora
Jesus follower; lover of life; story teller; adventurer; foodie; natural-born motivator; perpetual learner.
Picture a beautiful day. It’s a day like any other yet there’s a special quality to it. The air is fresh and sweet. Birds are cheerfully singing melodious tunes. The sky is a clear and radiant blue. The people you encounter look joyful. There’s a sense of peace and calm in the air. Everything seems just right, it is as it should be. There’s a soft, cool breeze that feels like a caress on the skin, and the sun is out in all its splendour.
It’s not too bright so that it hurts the eyes. Nothing conceals it this day, it is smiling down on this wonderful day. Its warmth touches the skin, so pleasant and uplifting. One can’t help but close eyes, turn face towards it and just bask in it. Bursts of orange appear behind closed lids, so vibrant like the day. Contentment seeps in and every muscle relaxes as each deep and contented breath fills the lungs like never before.
A thought. This is life. This is life at its fullest! This is life as it should be. A fitting thought because, indeed, with the Son, such is life. His sun never sets. His loving kindness never grows cold. His light shines on all and cannot be concealed or subverted. His warmth seeps into the fibres of your soul – there bringing life, there bringing healing, there bringing sustenance. His protection, like the rays of the sun, falls on and envelopes everything He touches.
The cold of loneliness is dispelled. The chill of fear thaws and melts away. The dark of confusion dissipates. Despair shatters and hopelessness falls. In the light of the Son, freedom and hope reign. Hearts and lives are full as His own soak in His abundance. Goodness will never leave. Unmerited favour will never abandon. A beautiful day has dawned, the day of the one true King, Jesus Christ. Come, let us bask in the light of the Son.
I have just watched the Jan Broberg story. Man, oh man. What a story! It made me feel so many things – anger, sorrow, disbelief, shock then right back to anger. It’s unbelievable. It’s shocking. It stays with me. I felt traumatised just from watching it and I couldn’t imagine what Jan Broberg went through, what her family went through, and what the people affected by Bob Berchtold went through.
The level of commitment the man showed to infiltrate the family and get what he wanted was insane. As the story played over in my mind, I realised that’s what the enemy of our souls, the devil, does, isn’t it? He sells us lies and tries to manipulates us. He tries to convince us that our Father is not our father. He tries to separate us from those that love us and care for us the most. He tries to separate us from God. He goes to extraordinary lengths, tirelessly using all kinds of cunning tactics.
If we believe him, we start to believe things that are alien to our identity and our purpose. We take on a purpose contrary to the one God gave us. The light of Jesus no longer reaches us like it should and we feel lost, conflicted and burdened. We no longer experience the peace that Jesus so freely gives. The remedy? Run! Run! Run! Run to Jesus. Run to His Truth. Run to His light.
Let His peace that passes understanding seep in. Let his unshakeable Word drive out every lie, nullify every manipulation, and tear down everything that is contrary to who God says you are. You are a child of God. You are loved and known completely by Him. He carries your burdens and carries you through anything you’ll ever face. If you need it today, let His truth, light and love in. Let Him guide you. Let Him heal you. Let Him fight for you. Run to him.
iBloom for God 