I need a word

I am doing a Biblical Hebrew course at the moment which is extremely intense. But one of the wonderful thing about doing a course like this is the way that God makes himself known. Every week we have to learn the meanings of and how to say 40 Hebrew words. It takes a lot of time and there always seem to be two words that won't stick in your mind. One of the words I learnt this week was "ne-um" which means revelation, utterance, announcement.

There are times we need a revelation, an announcement not from journatlists, politicians, life coaches or therapists, we just want one announcement from our Source. Something that will give us encouragement to take just one more step, to get through just one more day. It is comforting to know that He speaks through his word, but there are times we need the Holy Spirit to burn in our hearts. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus we want to not only hear the word but to feel. As we share out desire with God ask that He will respond with an utterance. Pray one for another.

hearing from God

What great women these Christians have.....

Time has gone so fast it was over a year ago that I wrote anything on my blog and so much has happened. As I go on I'll share things that have happened over past year, but now I have to deal with the now. Hilary Clinton, Michelle Obama and now Sarah Palin have been thrust into our psyche and regardless of your politics its great to see women overcoming barriers and being agents of change and challenging women to think about what they can do. I remember when Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister of England, living in Britain at the time I am ashamed to say I was a little uncertain about a women leading the country, but I grew to admire this woman for her determination and grit. She was and is known as the 'Iron Lady'. She was tough but she was still a lady. I've been in the States a few months now and I see that God is calling women at such an incredible rate and these women are doing great things for God. I have just recieved an article in 'Gospel Today' about female pastors, Sheryl Brady, Tamara Bennett, Kimberley Ray to name a few. These women are leading churches yea with all the joys and acolade that that brings but also with the pressure, stress and opposition that come with being not only in leadership but a woman in leadership. I applaud these women and every woman who leads a Sunday School class, a bible study, a prayer group. God has called you and me into the Kingdom for this present time. Its the best of times and yet it is the worst of times let us continue to pray one for another.

Party Time!

Yesterday I threw a surprise party for my husband. He was totally unaware of anything. We had some friends visiting from the UK who were leaving that day and though we would have really liked them to have been there, they were the perfect reason for getting him out of the house. I asked them to insist on being at the airport early. When he left for the airport things began to move. With the help of family and friends we put up lights, set out tables and chairs, put the food out, and most importantly friends came to help us celebrate. He was to use a English expression 'gobsmacked'.

I'm not sure what I feel about growing older, younger people see 40 something as ancient, while older people feel that 40 something is still young. There are days when I am at peace with my age, when I bask in the freedom to do exaclty what I want as the years have given me that right. Then there are days when I feel that if I knew when I was younger what I know now I would have made some different choices.

Often I have to remind myself that the gift of life, health and strength is what I should focus on. Using those three gifts to make the most of the opportunites and time I have right now as I don't know what tomorrow will bring.

I was inspired by the a Ghanaian woman - Georgina Woode - who at the age of 60 has been nominated by the Ghanaian president, John Kufuor for the office of Chief Justice, the highest juidicial position in the land. Reading through her interests I was struck by the fact that she was the leader of her church choir - Assemblies of God. God has a way of using you what ever age you are as long as we make ourselves available for use.


Remember ...... pray one for another.

What's that in you hand?

Harriet Tubman. Now there's a woman! From available documents it would seem that she didn't have much going for her. She was short, unattractive (her front teeth were missing), she couldn't read or write, she was prone to fits which caused her to collapse and fall asleep, and she was a black female slave. But did she allow these things to dampen her resolve to make a difference?

She was of the view that she had a right to one of two things - liberty or death and she would fight for one or settle for the other. When she did take her freedom she couldn't enjoy it knowing that her family were still enslaved. She strategised as to how best to get them from the South to the North. She did get them out, not only them but she went on to lead over 300 other people out of slavery. She didn't have much but she made the most of what she did have.

What do you have in your hand? It may be just a resolve to make tomorrow better than today with Gods help. It may be all you have going for you, but strengthen that resolve right now! Make the most of it, plan around it and use it to take you forward.

Remember ......Pray one for another.

Time Out!

Yes I know its not a good time right now..... and the project proposal is already overdue.....and the children have exams and they need you. But you need you too! Time out is vital to us as women. You need to be all you can be to yourself so that you can share it with others. You can't do this all at one time, just a little bit at a time. People and situations will just keep taking, and taking and taking until you're just a crumpled mass telling yourself "I can't do this anymore!" Trust me there will always be one more thing to do, something else to sort out but you're not doing yourself any favours by just going on and on.

I was away - for just two nights, Friday through Sunday - and it was fabulous. I went to a seminary about an hour outside of Accra. They were great - they just left me alone, which was exactly what I wanted. I wanted just to spend time talking to God and giving Him the space to speak to me . I was also able to read and put somethings down on paper that I just did not have the time to put down before. I was also able to sleep!!

I'm back home again with vistors to entertain, exam revision to coordinate and oversee, but I feel more able mentally if not physically.


Remember ..... Pray one for another

A reason for living

On a recent trip to one to the poorest regions in Ghana I was challenged by women who smiled, sang, danced, laughed, chatted, questioned but who by 'developed country' standards had so little. Their clothes weren't coordinated or fashionable, but clean nonetheless. They walked everywhere unless they were rich enough to own a bicycle.

A lady who lived in Kumasi, Ghana's second city (first of course if you are Ashanti!) tried to prepare me for the experience by saying to me '.....we are not poor here (Kumasi) go to the North that's where you'll see poor, when I go there I want to take off the clothes I'm wearing it to them.'

I wasn't prepared for what I saw and felt. My task was to speak to these women. I questioned myself and God what could I say that would make a tangible difference to the dire circumstances these women lived in, trite words and cliches would be insensitive and demeaning not only to these wonderful people but to myself.

I don't know if what I said made any real and lasting difference, I leave that to God. What I took away rather was that the will to live, to get up every morning and face poverty, no running water or sanitation, is the strongest force of all.


Remember .......Pray one for another