Skydiving Baby!!!

On the 5 October I decided to go Skydiving. It was exhilarating! I think it was less scary than bungee jumping because when you bungee you actually feel that rope tug at you. With a tandem jump you get the comfort of having someone with experience plunge with you! I had to sign a waiver which reinforced the danger I was putting myself in. That made me realise that as with any risk there is a chance things may not go according to plan. That was scary. The guy sitting next to me told me that he has his entire will re-written before coming and had timed it to send to his parents in case he didn't live to tell the tale! Ya, that was the last thing I needed to hear.

There is something freeing about listening to an expert. Someone who knows what they are doing. So I chose to drown this man's voice and listen to Nas, my instructor, who has done 10 jumps per day for 7 years! He gave me the routine "banana" position that I need to adopt during the jump. Then he made me laugh. His advise was to enjoy it because it's over so quickly and to remember to SMILE!

Looks like I listened check out my photos below:

Nas was quite a character ! Made me enjoy the experience even more.

Before we got off the plane he said Look at the camera and before I knew it we were off the plane. I have to smile for photos!

And we are off!

Looking at this makes me realise that I actually jumped off a plane. I DID IT!

Beautiful

A dive with a purpose

I told you that I love cameras check out the smile!

I'm flying

Breath-taking view: God-given talent meets God's beauty - the Palm 

Roar 

Look at how tiny the Burj Al Arab looks in this picture

Dubai and it's skyscrapers

Let's do it again: Nas and I after my jump!

Things worth noting:

1. It really goes by very quickly - the drop from the plane was only 45seconds and we dropped 2500m in that time
2. Enjoy the view! When the parachute was open it was just stunning looking at the water and the Palm 
3. Do something this exhilarating with a purpose it makes it that much more fulfilling - I did my jump to inspire my cousin who was going through a difficult time at the time
4. Try something new! You've be surprised how many people you inspire along the way:)

God bless

Dream Big

I marvel at my brother, Vukani, who at 16 years old knows and has known from a young age what he wants to be when he grows up. I remember my neighbour from eMadadeni, a township near Newcastle (SA) telling me that he wants to be an astronaut. I remember thinking this boy is so unrealistic how does he think he will ever get to NASA? It never occurred that his dream might steer him to be the founding member of South Africa's space exploration program. That was me in a nutshell - the realist. I can easily tell you why your dream is impossible. I once remarked that I loved school because each year was clearly marked for you. Pass and moved to the next grade. The subjects I chose at Grade 10 were not aligned to any dreams. I chose a subjects that would give me the greatest freedom of choice. I even did those Q&A at life skills where your responses point to a career path that's most suited to your personality. I didn't take it seriously because I never once researched those careers to see what I could actively pursue. 

My boyfriend is a dreamer. That's one of the things that attracted me to him. When I saw his vision board I was overwhelmed. I couldn't believe someone could stretch their imagination so much and want such big things for themselves. His dreams were all crystalised on that board and I especially like that he wanted to be a good husband and father. I didn't expect that from a young guy. I think his vision board was one of the reasons I decided to date him! hahaha

In my mind's eye I had I figured that I would get married one day and support my husband's dreams (poor husband!!!). I had placed my ability to dream on-hold hoping that his dreams will become our dreams. The more I spend time with God, the more I get the feeling that he wants more from me than that. God wants me to have my own dreams. I saw a beautiful clip communicating the lie of realism. In the clip the speaker mentions that the lie of realism is that we have named things where there is no soul, no spirit, no supernatural as realistic. He then takes us through the history of the bible where he points out it's far from what we would call realistic: Moses and his magic stick or Samson's strength or David killing a giant with a stone. He says we are living in a fantasy world and you can watch more of it here. It just made me laugh at how serious I am at times so I have to chose to be more child like! And dream big:)

My pastor's wife had a dream of encouraging women of all ages to pursue their purpose in life. Glow is a birth of that dream. The word Glow literally means to be exuberant and radiant to burn brightly and intensely, the mission is to Glow in the environment that God has placed us in. The annual conference took place on the 26 October 2013 and the theme was "I have a dream". I listened in awe to three women who were driven each day by their dream. They knew, like my brother, what they wanted to be. And today they were living, no, thriving in their dreams. I couldn't draw from any past dreams that were unfulfilled or any present dreams that I am striving for. I was filled with hope for the blank canvas before me I cannot wait to see what good deeds God has prepared for me to walk into (Ephesians 2:10).

Our three speakers for the day! They are godly women who are an inspiration

These are some of the key learnings I got from the conference. 

1. Write it down your dream. My boyfriend has pictures of what he dreams of so you can also do the same. Take note of this - if the dreams you write down are achievable without God they are not big enough! 
2. Spend time with God to ensure that your dreams are aligned to his heart. When your heart and God's heart are aligned, nothing can stop those dreams.
3. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Ask loved ones what your strengths are. Make sure you dreams are aligned to your strengths. John C Maxwell says "Stop working on your weaknesses!" 
4. Having the dream written down is important because storms will come. And when they come you need to remember that you have a dream worth pursing in-spite of the challenges
5. God is faithful even during the difficult times. It's through the testing that we get to know and discover who God really is
6. Go where God sends you. Trust him even when you don't understand. God is good. Our view is limited so we don't see that God has given us dreams what will give us the greatest fulfillment, joy, blessings and abundant life.
7. God is most glorifies in us when we are most satisfies in him. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says so whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. We must bring Glory to God in whatever situation we find ourselves - working mom, stay at home mom, single, career woman. In that very situation you can bring glory to God. 
8. God is kind enough to frustrate us when we try to build a name for ourselves Genesis 11:1-9. He is merely guiding us on a path that will bring the most glory to him. I love this.
9. There are two main reasons for not achieving your dreams - fear of man and fear of failure. Do not fear. God says I will never leave you or forsake you Deuteronomy 31:6
10. Know your identity in Jesus Christ. When what you do is not linked to who you are then you have the freedom to try new things. When you succeed you give the glory to God. If you fail, you know that your identity is linked  to who God says you are and not what you do. And you can try again. 

Have fun along the way...Loved our praise and worship. God was glorified:)

Hope this inspires you to dream and to have a conviction that you an live your God-given dreams. I hope you would allow yourself the freedom pursuit your dreams. 

Immense gratitude

I am currently reading the book of Leviticus. I find it boring and trying to find relevance is not easy. I did not see how learning about Aaron and his priestly garments and the many offerings that the Israelites could be beneficial. I then Googled to find a how to guide and found this very helpful article. It has changed my mindset in how I study the book of Leviticus. Firstly it reminded me that every word in the bible is God-breathed, so even the words in Leviticus are the very words of God. Then it reminded me of how I have been conformed to this world of entertainment - I can even fast forward things to get to the good parts. It may appear boring but it's the law of God. He compared it to reading the fine print in a contract, important but not entertaining. He showed me how I can appreciate some of the terminology used in the New testament because I understand the Old testament. For instance, I have to understand the role of the chief priest in the old testament to understand why Jesus is the chief priest. How his death on the cross paid in full for all my sins so I don't have to bring any offerings to God. Jesus is the ultimate offering.  He is the sacrificial lamb with an aroma that is pleasing to the Lord. With my tail between my legs I prayed and started reading again.

I read a story that made me see the contrast between the Law and Grace. In Leviticus 6: 1-5, God says  “If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the Lord by deceiving a neighbor about something entrusted to them or left in their care or about something stolen, or if they cheat their neighbor, or if they find lost property and lie about it, or if they swear falsely about any such sin that people may commit— when they sin in any of these ways and realize their guilt, they must return what they have stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to them, or the lost property they found, or whatever it was they swore falsely about. They must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day they present their guilt offering." Here God says if someone has stolen or deceived they neighbour in any way, they must repay what they have stolen and add a fifth of that value to it and offer a guilt offering. 

This made me think of the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus in Luke 19: 1-10, see the story below:

He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

In this story Zacchaeus has an encounter with Jesus. Zacchaeus is a the Chief Tax Collector. Tax collectors were hated by the Jews because they over-charged on taxes and then they kept the extra money. This was the way they got paid (so it was legal, my own comment). Most tax collectors got very rich by over-charging taxes. Taxes were too high. Some people had to sell their children into slavery to pay their taxes. High taxes made the Jews poor and kept them poor. Tax collectors worked for the Romans. The taxes went to pay Roman soldiers and Roman governors. The Jews hated the Romans in their land, and they hated paying taxes for them***. Zacchaeus was one of these Tax collectors and the Jewish people regarded  him a sinner.  This sinner had an encounter with Jesus and he is not only does what the law commanded but cheerfully gives more than what was required even by the law. Zacchaeus gives half of his money to the poor. He then promises to pay back fourfold all those has had defrauded. He reveals to me that being saved by God's grace is results in immense gratitude! Zacchaeus found the treasure in Jesus. He was willing to let go of most of his wealth for him. For Zacchaeus - Jesus was enough. 

How has your encounter with Jesus transformed you?

*** source http://www.easyenglish.info/aee/drama/zacc-aw.htm

The refiner's fire

The story is told of a group of women that met for Bible study. While studying in the book of Malachi, chapter three, they came across verse three which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled the women and they wondered how this statement applied to the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out more about the process of refining silver, and to get back to the group at their next Bible study.

The following week, the woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him while at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest, beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith work, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire, where the flames were the hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot, then she thought again about the verse, that "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the entire time the silver was being refined. The man answered yes, that not only did he have to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on it the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "But how do you know when the silver is fully refined?"

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that’s easy--when I see my image in it."


"The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, but the LORD tests hearts."  (Proverbs 17:3)

"I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction."  (Isaiah 48:10)

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