I don't like washing dishes.... I like paper plates, and soft hands. Yet, here I am, dramatically staring at a caboodle of dirty pottery thanking God for this joyous occasion. What happened to me in a time period of 6 months???
It's the sixth of June 1:32 AM. Our team is sitting on a train station smelling like two days of continues traveling. The train got delayed for a few hours as it needed an engine replacement which I believe God was controlling it like a play train set. We waited for a long time, drifting around, trying to smoothly fight for a space in front of the small fireplace. The duet of Gospel music and the Spirit of God was starting to warm up the place more than the fire but still my heart was troubled. With my luggage from Kuala Lumpur, I packed in some unnecessary past guilt and with it came its two companions of course, worthlessness and feelings of inferiority. God knew before I start my new chapter in Australia I should stop dwelling in the past. So I was sitting in the bathroom praying (On Global Challenge one finds alone time in toilets). That night I literally heard God's voice saying 'Vergeet' (forget). It was One word!!! One word that made me cry, my Journal quote : "..that the God of the universe can speak to me!!!". I obeyed that one sweet word and it gave me supernatural deep peace and so, that process was done. Such a great and deep breath of relief.
Are you done with me now Lord? I'm good right? Maybe a little holiday break from these moulding processes this year? Nope….
2 Corinthians 3:18 *And the Lord-who is the Spirit- makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.
It is vital for me to not underestimate what takes place when the Holy Spirit is alive in me. Even though sometimes it can be really difficult to work through many things I know that without the enlightening work of the Holy Spirit the truth of God's message can remain misty in my own life. I made a yearlong appointment with Jesus to replace my heart of stone. I strongly believe God allow me to experience a multitude of things just for me to understand the words better that describe God's Love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Once upon a time.......................mmmm nah, this year I feel like reality. Thank you Jesus for making me real and giving me the confidence to be real. I played main character in my own story for too long. Playing a role of who I thought I wanted to be, I was the director too by the way. I had a perfect answer planned for questions, a perfect life story to tell, a perfect image to give, a perfect way of acting. Yet, when I gave up the me, myself and I -vs- Father Son and Holy Spirit battle I realized that I finally met real perfection (understanding my part in the Body of Christ) by admitting all my imperfections and boasting in my weakness. We only receive God's new life when we give up the control of our own lives.
Once upon a time... I became real.
Hi, I'm Elmarié
With being completely real to who I am came real experiences, real relationships with people, real safe spaces for others to also admit flaws and a visible real Jesus living in my heart!
The light of God set me free, completely. 1 John 1:5-7.. God is light and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His son, cleanses us from all sin.
The Holy Spirit revealed so many things to me that needed to come into the light. Even things I would regard as 'small' or things that have been long forgotten. But yet the ray of light on these things set me free every time… piece by piece. As a result of being evoked of so many memories, the difference between condemnation and conviction became crucial. The enemy used the space to rather made me feel condemned and I was spinning and spinning, dancing to the lies of the enemy.
A celebration of fellowship with God and forgiveness followed. I am what Jesus has done for me. My confidence is in Him.
Back to Australia, what a splendid experience we had as a team. We were blessed, utterly blessed. We worked on sheep farms where we injected the sheep, did lamb marking, cut tails, balling, scabby and sheering. (+- 1600 sheep per day)..... I lasted a whole week. Assured myself I will not get liver disease as I stabbed myself 3 times. The rest of the time I served the mother on the farm, a beautiful strong woman, mother of 11 children. She has a way of praising God in everything she does, even though she lost her husband 2 years ago she showed me how his praise should ever be on our lips. For me, it's so easy to sing "Your Praise will ever me on my lips" proclaiming it out loud, but the irony in that, I believe, if my ipod had to break during this praising session I would probably be irritated and stop praising. Can I praise Him at all times? Good and bad? The biggest challenge staying with this mom, which in fact we too called mom, was to beat her to the zinc for dishes or the washing machine. She's a speedball and always on the roll! I had to fight for my serving space. Australia is filled with nature and green open fields proudly celebrating His existence. In this country I ate Kangaroo and there was always an open pack of Tim Tams dominating the room. The country music and accents still keep our team busy when we have those typical waiting for transport moments.
God is Good,
All the time and He loads us with daily benefit!!!
Blessings
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