Shh…God has a surprise!

Shh…God has a surprise!

Identity in Christ

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.

I am certain that many may have quoted this scripture from Jeremiah 29:11 to you or maybe you know it by heart.

I myself have stood on this scripture in many circumstances. Until recently, when I was seeking the will of God in a situation, but did not get an answer in a simple “Yes / No” .

The wonderful Holy Spirit then whispered to me, “If you buy a surprise gift for a certain person, would you reveal the content of the gift beforehand?”

From then on I wake up every morning rejoicing and knowing that I may not be able to see my future, but it is definitely not uncertain. I may not know the chronology of events that may follow in my life. But my future is filled with possibilities and hope!

His thoughts are higher!

Dear girl friend, this note is especially for you – Until God your father is on the throne your future is not uncertain. The Bible says in Psalms 97:1

The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!

Another translation says: The LORD is King! Tell the earth to celebrate and all islands to shout. (CEV)

Put your trust in God, His choice and His thoughts are always a better option to choose.

I love the story of Ruth from the Bible, She chose to follow God even though her mother-in-law could not promise her a secure future. That one decision changed her destiny and she was included in the bloodline of King David.

Let me close by reminding you again, God has a plan and a purpose for your life and even as I am writing this, I am praying for you that as you seek God and meditate on His word, He will reveal it to you!

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Don’t Give Up On Me

Don’t Give Up On Me

Identity in Christ

Recently, I was spending my time in prayer, particularly asking the Lord to help me in an area that I have been struggling with for a while. As I was ending my prayer time I said “Thank You Holy Spirit for not giving up on me”. Well, to my surprise, the conversation did not end with that. The moment I finished saying that, I heard the Holy Spirit say in reply, “Don’t give up on Me either”.

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. ( 2 Cor 3:18 )

God’s job is to transform you

Dear child of God, if there is some (or many) area of your life that you have been struggling with, genuinely desiring a transformation, don’t give up on the Holy Spirit, because He hasn’t given up on you. He’s still in the business of transforming you. Don’t give up on yourself, no matter how many times you have failed. Don’t give those condemning thoughts even one bit of space in your mind.

You and I are “being transformed”. We are in the process. Right now, we might only be able to see our life from a short- sighted view. But we can be at peace knowing that God sees the end from the beginning. That leaves us with no reason to stress out. As we trust Him and take those steps of faith, one at a time, God will take us from glory to glory.

So, shake off that condemnation, cancel that pity party and drop off your anxious thoughts, for He who called you is faithful and He is mighty to save you.

Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will arise; though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. ( Micah 7:8 )

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Shhh….Secret Sins? Your Quickest Way to Breakthrough

Shhh….Secret Sins? Your Quickest Way to Breakthrough

January 22, 2019

Shhh….Secret Sins? Your Quickest Way to Breakthrough

By Kim D’souza

    By Pastor Kim D’souza

Jeremiah, our six year old is a very sweet and helpful boy. He does a commendable job of tidying the house when I ask him to. But sometimes when he is not in a mood to help, he smartly shoves things out of place where my eyes cannot catch. So while the house does look clean, it is only matter of time before I find all things falling out from the hidden corners.

Many of us in our Christian life have a similar attitude. There are so many so called believers in the church who are shouting God’s praises from the outside but are hiding their struggles and temptations. They are broken and condemned from the inside and wondering why God’s plans are not working for them. And its only a matter of time before things start falling apart.

But never forget this – What you hide has power over your life.

The devil wants you to conceal things – whether it is lust, pornography, addictions, fears, depressing thoughts etc, and he will bring you reasons like shame, fear, guilt to keep you from exposing it.

John 3:20 says, Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

When Adam and Eve sinned, the first thing they did was that they hid themselves from the presence of God. But it was God who came searching for them. Similarly when Cain murdered Abel, it was God who initiated a conversation with him, even as Cain tried to hide the facts and act as if nothing has happened.

Hide nothing from God, HE knows it all.

If you are fed up with the way you are living and want a breakthrough in your life, the quickest way to get it is by exposing your struggles to God.

David wrote in Psalm 32:3-5When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me;
 my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” 
And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

David committed the sin of adultery with Bathsheba and schemed the murder of her husband Uriah. And God told him, What you did in secret, you will face the consequences of it in daylight before all Israel (2 Samuel 12:12). But we read in the next verse, David asks for forgiveness and IMMEDIATELY God forgives him!

If you are struggling with ‘secret sins’ and genuinely are hungering for a breakthrough in your life, here is what you can do.

1. Expose your struggles before God. Openly and loudly confess them. You see, the devil is not interested in just playing hide and seek with you. He has only one agenda and that is to knock you out of God’s plan for your life and to completely destroy you and the lives that are connected to you. So run to God, who is merciful, compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. And once you bring your weaknesses under the blood of Jesus, it is covered. Don’t entertain any feelings of guilt or condemnation and don’t look at your past.

2. Share your struggles with a same-sex mentor, pastor or someone who is mature in the Lord, who can pray with you and guide you. The Bible says confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed (James 5:16). This person should be filled with the Holy Spirit and the Word and living a life glorifying Jesus. Also, don’t assume that your pastor or prophet should know what you are going through and offer help. People are not God, instead you make time and reach out to them.

3. Hide God’s Word in your heart: If there is one thing God is asking us to hide, it is not our sins, but His Word. David says in Psalms 119: 11, I have hidden you Word in my heart that I might not sin against thee! God’s Word is light. And this Word will keep us away from sin. Pick up Scriptures that deal with your problem and start meditating upon them. Spend time with God’s Word and let it not depart from your mouth.

4. Run away from small temptations that you think cannot trap you. It is these ”small things” that we think we have control over, that can make us fall in the long run. Stay alert, your enemy, the devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. And above all guard your heart. Also very important, guard your eyes for the eye is the lamp of the body (Matthew 6:22).

5. Don’t cut away from fellowshipping with the people in your church. This is what the devil will want you to do – to run away from God, from men of God and people in the church. Don’t compare yourself to others and thus feel condemned. None of us is perfect, but God has created us to be fellowship beings. The Bible says, And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near (Hebrews 10:25).

Has God spoken to you? Is there anything hidden in your life that is worrying you? Remember the key to your breakthrough is not in hiding but in exposing it.

for guest writers. text will come here

Brokenness without Jesus

Brokenness without Jesus

JULY 10, 2018

Brokenness without Jesus

By Kim D’souza

    By Pastor Kim D’souza

We often read and quote about Abraham and Sarah in the Bible, but there’s one more important character in their story whom we miss out. The story of the Egyptian slave Hagar in the Bible is a story of brokenness until she encounters the true and living God, “who sees her”.

As a young girl, one day Hagar finds herself given away as a slave to an Israelite childless couple. To be known as somebody’s slave is heart-breaking – no matter how rich, kind or God fearing your owners are. You have no freedom of action, no right, no will. And that was the beginning of Hagar’s brokenness.

Then one day Sarai, her mistress has an idea. She urges her husband Abram to lie down with Hagar. Suddenly this young beautiful girl finds herself next to a man, probably as old as her father.

And she gets broken further.

Soon the news is out – Hagar is pregnant. At this point I feel Hagar is fighting mixed emotions. She was broken because after all that she went through, she was still unsure of what the future holds for her and the unborn baby in her womb.

And she was in her moment of ‘success’ because she was able to bring forth what Sarai couldn’t after decades.

Genesis 16:4 says When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.

Brokenness – Jesus = Bitterness

Another version says, when Hagar knew she was going to have a baby, she became proud and treated Sarai hatefully.

Here is what I want to draw your attention to.

Hagar was broken, but her brokenness was exclusive of God. You see, when Jesus is not a part of your brokenness, it becomes bitterness. Like it happened with Hagar, she became very bitter in her heart against Sarai and this overflowed in her actions towards her.

Similarly if Jesus is not a part of your success then there is every danger of pride creeping in. Hagar in her pride, reacted as the world would, and eventually she suffered the consequences of her behaviour.

But praise God, in His mercy, He rescued her and gave her a promise that still stands true today.

What does it mean?
No matter what season of life you are going through, invite Jesus into it. Cast your brokenness upon Jesus because He cares for you, like no one else. Share your heart to Him and allow His Word to seep through every crevice of pain and crack within you. And you will find that His grace will be sufficient for you. The Bible says that He is yet to deny a broken and a contrite heart.

Similarly yield your so called success to him. Always walk in humility and thankfulness and God will give you more grace, for He exalts those who are humble.
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Struggling with Menstrual Pain & Disorders? Break Free Now!

Struggling with Menstrual Pain & Disorders? Break Free Now!

MAY 24, 2018

Struggling with Menstrual Pain & Disorders? Break Free Now!

By Kim D’souza

    By Pastor Kim D’souza

I remember visiting my native place when I was in my pre-teen years. During this time, my mother and I went to visit a house nearby and as we were about to leave, I heard someone screaming in pain. This was not an ‘ordinary scream’ but almost as if someone was in intense labour pain. I ran in the direction of this cry, only to see a young girl slouching on a cot and weeping and screaming in pain. Later on, I came to know that she was suffering from menstruation cramps. I didn’t know much about menstruation at that time, but it definitely seemed to be a traumatic experience that I or any other girl could do without. Praise God, I never had to battle with any menstruation issues, but the reason I am led to share about this topic on our blog is because I sense it will set many of you, who are struggling, free!
Young women don’t talk openly about it, but statistics reveal that up to 80% of women report having some form of menstruation disorders including painful cramps, excessive bleeding, prolonged periods etc. If you are one of them, I believe God wants to heal you right now!  

…. And here’s the key

Your healing is hidden in the confession of your mouth

You need to confess what you need to get it

The Bible says in Job 22:28, You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you. First things first – While there may be things that you may not like about your period, not everything about it is negative. In fact, every cell and activity in our body is a testimony of God’s perfect work. As the Psalmist proclaims: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalms 139:13-14) Menstrual cycle is a beautiful way designed by God for the hormones in a woman’s body to remain balanced. Regular periods also provide vital information about the reproductive system, metabolic system, thyroid glands and bone health in one’s body. Medical experts say that when menstruation stops for longer than 90 days in the absence of pregnancy or breastfeeding, a medical evaluation should be taken as a number of health problems can occur. Wow! That makes me value my periods, rather than grumble about it. And what I value and appreciate- I don’t feel sad about it, nor do I feel fearful or condemned. Much of thinking with respect to menstruation is shaped by the media or the stories of women around us. And as you think in your heart, so shall it will be for you (Proverbs 23:7). We need to renew our mind with the Word of God and not think, say and act as the world does. As opposed to fear, pain, discomfort, inconvenience and ‘cleaning up’ mentality, I encourage you to value and bless your body during the menstrual cycle. Stop complaining or allowing your emotions to rule over you, rather fill your mouth with thanksgiving and praise. Instead of saying, “I am in my down days” or ” I am bound to feel depressed or emotional during my period”, declare loudly : Body, I bless you. Thank you, for you are working as God has meant you to. I am in my best days. I am happy and blessed! Say it out loud; say it like you mean it – with all your heart. And even as you do that by faith, you will see it happen in the natural. Your miracle is in your mouth! Even as I conclude, I want to pray with you..
In the name of Jesus, I command every menstrual disorder to leave your body right now. Pain – You are illegal in this body, which is purchased by the blood of Jesus. I command all the body parts to align and function in order as God intended to be. I cancel every negative word and self-imposed curse declared over your body related to menstruation in the name of Jesus. I thank you Jesus for this healing. In your precious name I pray. Amen.
Struggling? Come Walk With Me, Says Jesus

Struggling? Come Walk With Me, Says Jesus

February 28, 2018

Struggling? Come Walk With Me, Says Jesus

By Kim D’souza

    By Pastor Kim D’souza

Struggling with addictions? Weaknesses? Fighting wrong thoughts? Doing something that you know is wrong but you can’t seem to win over it?

I hear Jesus singing over you, “Come, walk with me.”

That’s all you and I got to do.

Don’t try to be good or perfect in order to reach Him. Instead go to Jesus just the way you are, and start spending time with Him.

In the book of Acts 4:13 we read, When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

The best walk in life – Walk with Jesus!

Peter and John were ordinary, undignified and smelly fishermen. Until one day they decided to drop their nets and walk with Jesus – spend time with Him, listen to Him, ask Him questions. It is in this process of being with Jesus, that their likeness changed! So much so that the world around them were astonished!

That’s exactly what you got to do right now. Start spending time with Jesus and His Word and as you do that, you will not have to strive to see a change in yourself, but His light in your life will cause all your addictions and struggles to fade.

I love this testimony of my husband – there was a time when Derrick was struggling with the addiction of smoking. There was a desire in him to change but no matter how hard he tried, he could not let it go. So he started spending more and more time with Jesus (sometimes even with a cigarette in hand!) And as he did that, the word of God became like fire in his bones, and one day his bondage broke, and he could no longer smoke again!

Wow, that’s the power of being in the company of Jesus.

“Come, walk with me,” Jesus is calling out to you. Would you hearken to His voice today?