Author: inhiscourtsblog

Passionate about Life and Purpose.

Finding Purpose in the Seasons of Life

inhiscourtsblog

When you appear stuck in the Unfamiliar

When you seem trapped in the unknown, it looks like there is no way out. The starting point seems so far behind, fading away in the far distance from where you are, and the end point of this seemingly incredible journey is nowhere to be seen, but hidden in the invisible distance ahead.

What do you do then?
Do you turn back and venture in the journey of giving up or do you take up courage and push forward pressing into the future that you can’t see with the natural eyes of your current circumstances, but only by the determination of the heart to get at the finish line.

Sometimes we start journeys in life just because we want to belong, feel welcome, have someone’s shoulder to lean on or ticked off a ‘milestone achieved’ in our yearly resolution plan. However, God sometimes will just want you to look up to Him, learn to listen to Him and wait until He gives you the go ahead to start. But we just want to be on the move and get along, this way we can quickly and easily get buried into the busyness of the journey and blocking off all the fears and shortcomings we are struggling with, which God is trying to deal with in our lives at that moment.

However, I am just tired of doing the same old thing again and again. I asked myself why the rush out of the hospital theatre when the surgeon is still operating on your body. It’s unwise to check yourself out of the hospital when the doctor hasn’t discharged you yet. That’s a recipe for disaster. Because too soon you’re going to find yourself right back in the theatre room where it all started. And this time, the surgery process might be longer and more painful because some wounds may have been exposed and infected, which now requires re-opening for proper clean-up. Why checking out of the surgery theatre when you could have waited until wholly treated, healed and discharge to start the journey strong and in good health?

So when you seem to get stuck in the unfamiliar, don’t rush out or looking for ways to boycotted the journey thinking it’s too long a ride to get to the finish line. That’s a good place to stop and pray, listen and get instruction on how to proceed. However, most of us are good at praying but not waiting and listening for an answer. Most times we are not stuck, but just in a particular stage of the journey that seems a bit longer and slower than the beginning for a particular reason which we can seek God for, or missed it if too hasty.

So wherever you are on this journey, remember nothing can take God unawares, He knows every single day and minute of your life before He ever created you. I will say, that He is right in the midst of whatever you’re in now, just lean on Him for directions and He will lead you through.
Do you think you’re stuck somewhere? In the Unknown? Why not pour it out to God and watch Him guide you.
God’s blessings.
Comments are welcome!

Finding Purpose in the Seasons of Life

inhiscourtsblog

The Pool of Disappointment

I am not sure if you have ever experienced any form of disappointment, but I’ve had so many that sometimes it left me thinking that I am the only one in the pool.
I’ve swamped and swamped, and now I don’t think I can swim anymore because my hands are heavy and tired of flapping in this pool that doesn’t seem to have an exit.
No matter how cold the water is, there are some types of disappointments that no water can calm. The heat that some of them come with can draw off every last bit of energy left in you. They are capable of extracting the strength in you.
So many times, I’ve asked myself, why me? Does it always have to happen to me? I mean, can others also have a turn, please? Because this thing call disappointment is proving too much to handle, and I am seriously tired of it.
Life would have been pleasant without disappointments, unexpected surprises and heartbreaking experiences, but I guess they happen for a reason. As the saying goes, God will not permit what you can’t carry. Though sometimes it can be painful, but His grace is sufficient. God didn’t promise a trouble-free life but that in the midst of every trial and situation we go through, He is there with us.
Now, as am writing this, I am also encouraging myself. And if you are going through any heartbreak and disappointment, feeling down as if you are the only one going through this trauma, can I encourage you to be strong? You are not alone in this pool. Am sure if you look properly, you’ll begin to see others swimming in the same pool. Some faces might be familiar and others may not. So why not we hold hands together in prayer and courage as we strive to swim out of this pool? No matter where you are, I want you to know this, you’re not alone. God sees and knows everything.
I pray for everyone who feels like sinking, as we are about to end this year 2016, may the grace of God fall like a rescue rope and pull you out of the pool of disappointment.
You are highly loved and favoured. God knows your name, address and situation, and He will come for you without fail.

Have a God blessed New Year filled with all of God’s very best for you.

Be strong and very courageous! God is at work!

 

Comments are welcome.

Finding Purpose in the Seasons of Life

inhiscourtsblog

How do you handle Rejection?

Rejection is a painful thing that nobody wants to experience.
In this season of Christmas, when everyone is celebrating and enjoying, there are some who are experiencing the opposite. It’s not because we are better than them, it’s just God’s grace.
However, the real meaning of Christmas is celebrating the birth of the Saviour Jesus Christ coming into the world to redeem and reconcile humanity back to God. No one likes rejection, yet so many people in the world reject Jesus, the very source of life. How would you feel when you sacrifice your life or something precious for someone you love and care about, and they rub it right back in your face, treating you and your sacrifice as non-existence? It is painful, yet we do the same thing to Jesus today. The rejection He went through before the crucifixion was ordained by God so Jesus can get to the cross.  And because of the cross, you and I are promised eternal life.

In life, some rejections are essential for one’s life. Some of them strengthen you while others become foundation necessary for your next phase in life. God will at times allow you to go through some rejections to equip you and prepare you for where He is taking you. Do not quote me wrong, some rejections can be painful, agonising and heartbreaking, but you got to shake it off you, take up courage and faith in God, knowing whatever it is, it won’t last. It’s for an appointed time, and it will surely pass away. No matter how difficult it is, it won’t break you to pieces. And if you think the rejection has shattered your life, God will bring you up again. He permits it for a reason. Remember God won’t allow you to go through what you cannot bear.
Some of the rejections I’ve experienced where overwhelmingly painful, I thought, that was it. They were capable of draining the life out of me. And you know the most painful of all, is when they come from family, friends, relatives, loved ones and people you have sacrificed your time and love for, in one way or the other.
Most of those rejections made me see life differently and appreciate God better in my life, because if it hadn’t been for Him, I wouldn’t be here writing about it today.
One thing I wanted to point out is that suffering rejection doesn’t give us the licence to hate the person or the people doing that to us. I know this is a hard hit to take in but Jesus laid a perfect example for us when He prayed on the cross that God should forgive His persecutors for they didn’t know what they were doing. Not because it wasn’t painful, but because of the love, He has for them and the world. I know you may be thinking, that’s Jesus, not me, it’s easier for Him to do and say that because He was and is God. But remember Jesus was 100% man on earth, and He could feel pain and hunger like we do. The example He laid for us, is this no matter what anyone does to you, you can forgive and still love them. However, this is only possible when you have God’s love in you. Now, even at that been said, you’ll still want not to forgive or love back your persecutor because we are flesh, but we need to remind ourselves at all times, that God’s love is greater and more overpowering than whatever pain and rejection this world has to offer.
Rejection has the potential to keep you back from your God-ordained purpose. It tends to discourage you from moving forward. It makes you doubt your instincts about what God is leading you to do. It leaves you thinking, surely, this cannot be from God, because if it is really from God, then I shouldn’t be experiencing rejection. But sometimes you got to believe and press through, knowing the more the rejection, the greater God’s plan and purpose are for you. People can look down on you and disqualify you, but God is good at taking the unqualified according to man’s judgement and makes them qualify for the very thing in which they were disqualified. The very thing they rejected Jesus for was the very thing God made him be, and nothing could or can change that. He was rejected as King, the Son of God and as Saviour, but God crowns Him to be everything and higher.  My Bible tells me in Philippians 2:9 – 11 ”Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Whatever your rejection status is, I want you to know this, that God will arise for you and on your behalf, and will use that same painful experience to bring out something great and beautiful in you. You are precious to Him, and He hasn’t forgotten or abandoned you. You are worth all the sacrifice Jesus came to offer, and He will lift you out of that pit you find yourself.
My dear, you are highly loved and cared about by a King who is above and greater than any earthly king you can ever come across. He is the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords. He is the One we celebrate this season. The real meaning of Christmas. His name is Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world. Would you accept Him today into your life and watch Him alter the course of your life for good. For there is no situation, He cannot change. He is still in the business of beautifying lives and saving souls.
We need no longer to reject Jesus, because He was already rejected before the cross, to get to saving you and me.
I pray that God’s love (Jesus) will fill your heart and soul and bring life overflowing to every deadness in your life.
Rejection cannot hold you down. You are destined for greatness!
What is that rejection you are going through? Have you given it to God and see it as part of the journey to your destiny?
Comments are welcome.

Finding Purpose in the Seasons of Life

inhiscourtsblog

The Pressure to Move Ahead!

Most times pressure causes you to walk through that mountain ahead of you, which you won’t have, if no pressure was applied. We tend to get stuck anytime we face a road block, a setback, a mountain or an obstacle. We then settle down and start worrying about how we can cross or overcome the mountain. We evaluate, analyse, set up strategies, build bulletproof covers for ourselves, so we don’t get hurt in the process and then just camp there in front of the mountain waiting and praying for it to move away.
Just like the Children of Israel and the Red Sea, I don’t think they really wanted to cross the sea. They would have preferred another method of deliverance. Perhaps, if ships were waiting for them at the seashore, then, they would have used that means of transport to cross over to the other side. However, God didn’t make that provision. They were to either walk moving forward face to face with the challenge, or they stay behind defeated. But when the pressure of the past was pursuing and attacking them, they had no choice but to choose God’s method to move head on, facing the mountain ahead of them.
Surely it wasn’t an easy one to face, but as they decided to move forward, taking that step of faith to handle and face the future, God was there to see them through. He did say in His Word, when you pass through the waters it won’t drown you.
God has a specific method of taking you through from one area of your life to the next. Because He chose a ship for Paul and the Red Sea for the Israelites, doesn’t mean He’s going to use the same for you. But what’s important is identifying His method for your life and applying it against that mountain blocking your progress.
At times, in life, you need the pressure of the past like the Children of Israel experienced, to push you forward, propelling you to face what’s ahead in faith and walk into your God-ordained purpose.
That pressure you are facing might be the very tool to catapult you into your new season.
Wherever, you’re at right now in your life, whether struggling to move ahead or in a valley of decisions, faith and trust in God’s Word (Jesus) is the only way forward. And I pray that you will apply God’s Word to whatever the situation is and walk into His perfect future for your life.
I leave you with this assurance of God’s promise. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.” Isaiah 43:2.
God’s blessings.
How are you handling that God-ordained pressure you’re facing?
Comments are welcome!

Finding Purpose in the Seasons of Life

inhiscourtsblog

When death strikes unexpectedly in the midst of discovering purpose.

Have you ever lost something so dear to you while still trying to settle down in your unfamiliar environment? Something that might require you to stop turn back, and take a break? Some of them might be mere distractions to delay you from discovering your purpose in the unfamiliar, but some are crucial and need to be attended to, dealt with, so as to function properly in your unknown zone.

I lost what was so dear to me, and I asked questions but can’t understand why it happened. I’ve seen people gone through the same route and came back well and healthy, but not in my case. The question remains, is God selective in what He chooses to do? I don’t think so. I believe He does what He has purposed to do at the right time He has set it to happen. Losing something/someone dear to you can be painful, heartbreaking and disappointing.
But one thing I realised in the midst of my brokenness, that there is a set time assigned to everything on earth. Our lives have a set date to leave this earth whether we like it or not. The gifting and talents God gave us are for a particular time and season. So it’s our job to seek God and find out what He wants us to do in every stage of our lives in this transit journey.

It was a Saturday night between 9 pm and 11 pm Hobart/Melbourne time. I was half asleep when the phone rang. I answered the phone, and all I could hear was crying and wailing together with the news of what happened at the other end of the phone. Immediately I woke up. For minutes the news hasn’t digested in me yet. I thought it was a dream. I hung up the call and sat upright on the bed, still trying to comprehend what I just heard. Then it was done on me that this was a reality. That I wasn’t just dreaming, then I became wide awake. I shattered into tears, couldn’t find meaning in the whole situation. I shouted and cried until I thought I was going to lose my voice. What is this? What’s happening? Why God? I wasn’t expecting this result. But there was no answer; I broke down. Couldn’t find anybody to understand the overwhelming pain I was going through. The room was quite and lonely. I knelt down on the floor and cried my heart out to God. It was a long lonely and painful night. I thought my heart would break open because of the agonising pain I was going through. God are you there? Why? Why God? A few days ago You gave me peace concerning this situation and I thought all was going to be well. At least You should have allowed me to speak to her before You took her away. I so much believe that You will give me this opportunity. What’s going to happen to her now? Will she make Heaven? Was she saved? Has she accepted Jesus in her life as her Lord and Saviour? I just couldn’t stop the questions. I asked until I could no more. I broke down in tears again. Still broken on the floor, suddenly, there was a heavy burden on me for my unsaved family members. A burden I know can only come from God at that particular time. It was so heavy that I couldn’t wait to deliver it.
Then I wondered why the burden was so urgent at that time. I had it before in the past but not that pressing as I was feeling it in that broken situation. Then I understood why at that point. Because time was running out and no one knows who’s next.

You see my dear friends, the message of salvation cannot be put aside any longer. It must be spread all out, because when death hits, it might be too late to make it right. Life without Jesus is meaningless. We are so busy competing with one another, gossiping one another, pulling down one another and disqualifying each other that it has taken over our daily agendas. Is this all we want to spend our lives doing? What are we living for friends? Is it the same Jesus the Bible talks about that we are following?
Some say, ‘it’s my life, and I’ll do whatever I want.’ No, love, it’s not yours, and that’s why you don’t have the last say over it. The Owner can call you home anytime He wants, and no doctor on earth can prevent that.

My painful moment left me with one desire, we got to spread the good news…..Time is no longer on our side. Are we going to watch people perish or are we going to take the stand in spreading God’s word?
We are so busy achieving careers, making money, building houses and buying cars, trying to proof to each other who got it all together. Satisfying our selfish desires when people are dying every day without encountering Jesus, the Saviour of the World.

I pray that The Lord will deposit in you and me, the urgency of His message and that it will be like fire shut up in our bones that we won’t be able to delay any longer, as He did with Prophet Jeremiah in the Bible.

Do you know that God can turn your misery and brokenness into a message? And may I dare say that sometimes He allow somethings to happen to us so He can get our attention to the urgency of His call. Some of us need severe shaking to wake up from our slumber and step into God’s plan for our lives.

Praise be to God who turned my brokenness and agonising situation into victory at the end. And now I can say with gladness…..“O Death where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Are you spreading the Good News?

Comments are welcome!

Finding Purpose in the Seasons of Life

inhiscourtsblog

WHEN IT’S NOT YET TIME

Sometimes you find yourself in a waiting period for so long that when the light begins to shine at the far end of the tunnel, you started doubting yourself if you’ve really seen well.

The waiting process is something we all have to go through at one point in our life or the other. There are different types of waiting in life and no one is exempted. It is a class you must go through. You can’t wake up at 8:00 am and want the clock to change to 12:00 pm straightaway; that won’t happen. You’ll have to wait for another four hours to get to midday. So having fists about it won’t make it any faster or sooner.
I’ve seen people being grumpy and throwing tantrums in their waiting period. I’ve had mine as well, and it was not just once or few times, they were many, and I’ve lost count of them. Some of them I have complained, got angry, seek counsel from people around and thought perhaps there was something I did wrong that got me into that situation. However, in all that time, I just increased tension and added anxiety and worry to my diet which was all uncalled for, if I had just trusted God, have my ears to His heart and practice active listening to His voice.
Just like the airport terminal. Many wait at this stop listening for the next direction to the route heading to their destination. Just because you got to the terminal doesn’t mean that you’ve arrived at the boarding gate. You’ll have to ask for direction to the boarding gate where you’ll be led to the waiting flight if you don’t know where it is or how to get there.  Being at the right terminal gate is very crucial to getting the flight to your destination. You can’t be at terminal 2 gate 5 and complaining about flight delay when you’re supposed to be at terminal 3 gate 10. That is a waste of time and unnecessary reaction from your side.
Some months ago I found myself struck in a particular journey in my life where I couldn’t determine whether to turn right or left, sit down or stand up, walk or run, or just to soar high effortlessly into what I sense God was calling me to do. The thoughts of how do I get there, how to do it, when to do it, and if it’s the right time to do it, just hover over my mind.
So on a particular day at work, I asked myself ‘what am doing here? Should I be in this office?  Am I at the right terminal for my destination flight?’ I’ve been asking God, ‘what do You have in store for me in this job? What do You want me to do? Am I waiting at the right place?’ I felt that time was running out, and I still haven’t done much for God yet nor have I done anything that is in line with my career or the purpose of God for my life.
You can be at the right terminal, standing at the exact gate for your next flight but miss the very crucial flight announcement which determines whether to proceed to the boarding area or flight cancellation update. If you don’t practise active listening to your flight announcement or direction, you may end up at the wrong gate no matter how early you were at the right terminal.
I realise that sometimes the flight gate can be changed by the airline at any point. So if you are not attentive enough, this can be missed.
Other times you may get at the right terminal and gate, but an extensive delay may occur where you just have to wait for the updated time patiently. You can’t force yourself to board when the gates are not yet open.
It is the same with waiting on God. You need to learn how to listen and recognise God’s voice in any situation you find yourself. Being at the right place and the right time He requested you to, contributes a lot to hearing and receiving what He has in store for you and the direction to your next level or destination. Because God spoke to you in your dream last night doesn’t mean that’s the only way He’s always going to speak to you. If you can’t distinguish His voice, then you will miss Him when He decides to use another method to communicate to you.
In the book of Habakkuk 1:5 and chapter 2:1-3, the prophet stood at the right spot, did what God asked him to do at the right time, and was listening to what God has to say to him. He waited patiently until when God showed up and gave him the message. It was there that God gave him the vision which was also for an appointed time, (God’s own time) to manifest.
You find yourself in a situation where all you wanted to do is give up, turn back and call it quit. But at times God may ask you to wait in such a place even when it doesn’t make sense to stay at that spot. And most times, the very place you want to give up on, might be the route to your next level. But there is a thin line between giving up and holding on; that one can miss if he/she focuses on the current situation or circumstance at hand.
What do you do in such situation? You fight with persistence faith. The faith to hold on, wait and listen to God’s voice, knowing and believing that He cares about you no matter where you find yourself. He will never leave you, and that He is right there with you in the midst of your troubled situation? I was there when I thought things are going to fall apart. To be precise, they were falling apart. The only thing that kept me standing was ‘GRACE’. God’s grace! Even when I didn’t realise it, God was right in the midst of it all. Thank God I didn’t give up, I held on even when it wasn’t pleasant, and before I knew it, the flight to my next level arrived. Though it looks delayed, in my own eyes and judgement, but it was never late in God’s time and schedule. He is always on time. And when it’s not yet time according to His schedule, no amount of reaction from your side will get Him to do what you want, out of His timeframe.
Remember that He is a loving Father, and He has your best interest in mind. He sees the end way before the beginning, and He knows the right time to intervene in our daily life’s activities.
Let His time be your time as you learn to lean and depend on Him!
Comments are welcome!