Why Every Woman Should Remember Anna

Why Every Woman Should Remember Anna

by | Mar 13, 2014 | Christian Walk

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Luke 2:36-38

Anna’s story wraps up in just three Scriptures in the Bible, but what a powerful testimony her life was! Here is why I believe every woman (and of course men too!) should remember Anna:

Anna was a prophetess

Anna will remind you that you have a calling on your life. Anna was living at that time and in that season for a purpose. Similarly you are here in this world not by chance or by mistake. You are here because God in His wisdom positioned you for this season and for a specific reason. Come on, you better not give up, let up or shut up until you start walking in your purpose.

Anna was a widow and she was old

Anna will remind you that you are God’s workmanship and your calling doesn’t depend on who you are, but to whom you belong. You may be beyond your age; You may be broken; You may have a past; You may not have much ‘talent’, You may be abandoned and left all alone –but it DOESN’T matter because as long as you are available for God, He will make you able.

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Anna never left the temple

Anna will remind you that your breakthrough will come only by being in the presence of God. Anna’s biggest tragedy became a launch pad for her to meet her creator. While she had a chance to grumble or complain night and day, she chose to worship instead. There sure must be visitors to the temple who made fun of her or called her a ‘false prophetess’, but Anna’s focus remain undeterred. She chose to be sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit and not to the voice of the world.

Anna’s life was a life of prayer

Anna will remind you that for children of God, waiting isn’t a passive period. The word ‘waiting’ in Hebrew is Quava, which means to be inter-twined or bind like a rope. As Anna waited for the fulfillment of God’s promise in her life, she fasted and sought the Lord in prayer. She was one with God and His Word. Waiting is getting alone with God. It is being in constant communion with Him in prayer. It is earnestly seeking His will. It is being thankful.

Anna was a witness

Anna will remind you to look beyond your circumstances and witness to a world that is lost and desperate to hear the good news. Never be ashamed to share the gospel for the gospel  is the power of God unto salvation for all those who believe (Romans 1:16).

Anna in Hebrew means ‘Grace’

Finally, Anna will remind you that you are a product of God’s grace. God’s grace is unchanging, remaining and new every morning. It is more than enough for you! You are held by His grace and it is His grace that will see you through in every test of your life.

What have you learned from Anna? Anything you want to add?

Hear From the Greatest Lover of All Times

Hear From the Greatest Lover of All Times

by | Feb 14, 2014 | Christian Walk, Dating & Relationships

(By Pastor Derrick D’souza)

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From the Father,  To You…

My love for you existed even before it could get conceived in your heart (1 John 4:19)

My love for you is a fruit of my will and pleasure.  (Ephesians 1: 5)

My love for you made me give you all that I ever had (John 3:16)

My love for you overflows. My love calls you as my very own (1 John 3:1)

My love laid upon ‘Himself’ all that you deserved (John 15:13, 1 John 3:16-18)

My love gives you a root to grow. My love establishes you. My love surpasses all knowledge (Ephesians 3:17-19)

My love for you does not depend on what state you are in, I love you anyways! (Romans 5:8)

My love gives you authority because my love makes you blameless  (Ephesians 1: 4).

My love walks before you and prepares a beautiful destiny for you  (1 Corinthians 2:9)

My love for you is unfailing. My love for you sets the standard for patience, kindness, forgiveness, humility and every virtue that you can think of (1 Corinthians 13:4-12)

My love takes away your guilt and fears. My love sets you free (1 John 4:18-19)

My love for you is great, sometimes it is even called as grace! (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Nothing – nothing at all can separate you from My love (Romans 8:35-39)

You were born of Me. I am love…(1 John 4:18)

The Incredible Power Behind Submission

The Incredible Power Behind Submission

by | Jan 15, 2014 | Christian Walk, Leadership

I was following my daily bible reading planner for 2014, when I stumbled upon a very important principle which will help you to grow in every area of your life.

I noticed that the word “Submit” was mentioned for the first time in the Bible in the story of Hagar and Ishmael. We all know the story of Hagar (Abraham’s wife’s maidservant) who was given to Abraham to bear him children since his wife Sarah was barren. However, Hagar began to despise her mistress once she knew she had conceived. Sarah ill-treated Hagar and she fled from her into the desert. God, however found Hagar and stated this “Go back to your mistress and submit to her” and then declared the future of this child in Genesis 16:12.

“He will be a wild donkey of a man; His hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him and he will live in hostility towards all his brothers”

I have never looked at this verse the way I have looked at this today. However, through my own experiences and from watching the life’s of others I have always seen the exact same outcome overshadow anyone who is in rebellion or who has not learnt the power of submission. The spiritual significance of this statement made by the angel of the Lord can be looked at in two ways:

(a) God was telling Hagar the future of this child and his destiny.

(b) God was spiritually speaking about the nature of the seed that one carries when there is no submission.

Dictionary meaning of submit

Webster’s revised unabridged dictionary has some really powerful meanings for the word “submit” which would help me make my point:

1) To yield, resign, or surrender to power, will, or authority

2) To yield one’s person to the power of another; to give up resistance; to surrender.

3) To yield one’s opinion to the opinion of authority of another; to be subject;

4) To be submissive or resigned, to yield without murmuring.

In true submission lies great strength

How many of us have been in a situation where you reasoned that running away from a problem was the best solution, yet you never had a peace in your heart about what you were going to do!!

The Bible teaches us that in true submission lies great strength. Jesus submitted to the father in reverent obedience and hence God exalted Him and gave Him the name above all names.

Five principles of submission

My dear friends, here are some lessons and blessings that can be yours if you will simply submit and seek God in your situation rather than run from it.

1.  If you are not seeing victory over specific strongholds, addictions, or bad habits in your life, you are not in submission to God and hence the devil has a foothold in your life or else he would have to flee. Submit yourselves to God and then resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

2. If you are having strife in your marriage then it could be because either one partner is not submissive or loving as Christ as it was meant to be (Ephesians 5:22, 25). Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. …….Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

3. If you are not prospering at your job then it could be very well that you have never submitted to the instruction of your superiors; or failed to walk with integrity of heart; or yield without murmuring to their instruction as you always found fault or had an opinion of your own!!

Colossians 3:22-24 says: Slaves, (employees) obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. This rule is paramount for success in every area of life even in the ministry that God has called you.

4.  If you are not pleasing God and growing in maturity in your walk and talk with God and man then it could be that you are still in control and have not surrendered to your life to the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:6-8 says: The mind of the sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace….Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

5. Last but not the least, if your thoughts are always boring, sad, negative or give way to feelings of low self worth, then you are not submitting and practising the Word of God in your life. Isaiah 55:9: says “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Let’s begin this year with submitting to the things of God. You may have to submit with gritted teeth initially; however, I can bet you if you hang in there and have an attitude of submission God will raise you up!

50 Years of Marriage & Selfless Love!

50 Years of Marriage & Selfless Love!

by | Dec 6, 2013 | Marriage & Parenting

Marriage is a beautiful covenant ordained by God. Sadly the world presents a distorted view of it.

May be some of you have reached a point in your marriage where you are wondering, “What’s there in it for me?”

Recently I came across the below video on the net. It tells the story of Bill and Glad who have spent 50 years of togetherness as a couple. Glad was diagnosed with dementia eight years ago, and that’s when Bill could have easily asked the question, “What’s there in it for me?”

But here is what he did:

Video Courtesy: cvcnow

The video received an overwhelming response and Bill, when interviewed later by 60 Minutes Australia had this to say:

True, as Bill says, the basis of marriage is selfless love. And this kind of selfless love can only come by knowing the selfless God.

If you have not already, then decide to make Jesus the centre of your marriage and His love will sweep over every mountain that you may be encountering today.

If you have a prayer need concerning your marriage or if you are looking for a soul mate, send in your prayer request to us at [email protected], and we would love to pray with you.

Fighting Depression – How My Friend Did It

Fighting Depression – How My Friend Did It

by | Aug 23, 2013 | Healing & Freedom

I love visiting the house of this friend of mine for one reason. Everywhere you see you will find paper cuttings and scribbled notes of Scriptures from the Word of God stuck on her house walls. And not even the washroom is spared! The Scriptures also remind me of her powerful testimony. After her husband’s sudden death, her life almost came to a halt. She went through severe depression and lost interest in things around her. But she fought back and now God is using her to minister to women around her.

Depression- a killer
Depression is a killer because it drains your motivation, enthusiasm, the very purpose of your life and can result in broken relationships, physical breakdowns and even suicides.  There may be many causes of depression like a sudden untoward incident, fatigue, hurts, worry, anxiety, unconfessed sin, obsession to please people, among others.

Fighting Depression
If you are going through depression in any form, in this post I want to share with you some weapons that will help you fight it. Now these are not simply words of counsel coming from someone, who hasn’t been there; but these are truths that have set my friend free and she desires to pass it on to you.

1. Guard your thoughts: Depression is a mind condition and hence fighting it begins with tackling your mind. Take a strict inventory of your thought life. Only pure, holy, excellent thoughts (Philippians 4:8) are invited in your mind. Give legal notice to vacate all bad or negative thoughts. Your thoughts must align with God’s Word and not your situation, state of mind or feelings.
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2. Soak in His Word: Whether you feel like or not, soak in the Word of God. Stick the scriptures on your door posts, walls, wherever your eyes can see them. Plant the seed of God’s word religiously in your heart as only that can set you free. Also pray in tongues all the time.

3. Keep yourself busy: Get out of your routine and do things differently. Make new habits. Find any work you can put your hands too. An idle mind is a devil’s workshop. Write, take a walk, watch a good movie- do the things that you like. Avoid isolating yourself, rather surround yourself with Godly men and women of God who will build you up.

4. Count your blessings: Begin everyday by thanking God for every little and big thing in your life. Gratitude triggers praise and praise will usher your breakthrough.  Enjoy God’s creation. Enjoy every bird in the sky, every tree, mountain. Also it does not pay to keep grudges. Forgive instantly all who have hurt you. Bless and release them.

5.    Finally enter into God’s rest: Know that your breakthrough is not in striving or worrying, but in knowing your position and identity in the finished work of Christ. Stop being restless about your future, your children, your marriage or your finances. I heard somebody putting it this way: when you strive, God waits, but when you rest, God acts.  Lean on God and not on your own strength or your own ability.

If you are fighting depression and need prayers, feel free to send in your prayer request to us at [email protected], we would love to pray for you.