Be who you are!

The world has been developing amazingly in recent years that we contemplate caution, research and strategy for every action in the horizon.
For every decision, a team of consultants, planners, researchers, coaches are available to safeguard success.
When we look around to politicians, celebrities, journalists, athletes, eminent doctors, lawyers, preachers, teachers are all served by a team that will ensure they will dress properly, speak the right words, present the correct body language, keep up with a posture of confidence, know exactly when and how to smile or to turn into an inquisitive face.
To be spontaneous is no longer a quality if you deal with public and media because some words or attitudes can disappoint your listeners and deploy your success and status.
To build up an acceptable image is the new culture of the 21st Century. A team of expertise can easily transform a middle class secular girl into the First Lady of a Country, but the image you see is it really whom she is?
And little by little we have been opening the doors of our home and subjecting our family and daily life to this “image culture”.
 Parents are advised not to speak openly to their children any longer because it may cause de-motivation or a conflict of authorities.
 Couples try no longer to merge opinions because individuality is the order of the day. 
Children feel no need in opening up to their parents about their challenges, fears and struggles because they are better off assisted by social workers, psychologists, behavioral coaches, educators and all.
Overall we have been pushed through the edge of building up an image of our inner self instead of being who really we are. We also learnt to smile, when inside we are crying; to disguise insecurity, fear and pressure for a confident face; to pursue success when indeed peace would be the great gift of all.
And when we enter in the presence of our Heavenly Father, our Creator, we still apply the “image culture” and do not open up, seeking for His presence; instead we say a beautiful prayer, full of praises and thanksgiving when deep down there is a mute shout of despair.
 God is expecting to see us for what we really are. And He is prepared to build us up from our failures, shortcomings and mistakes. He is not taken by beautiful words instead He prefers the sorrow of your soul provided you are being sincere to Him.
And from there, from a broken heart, no wax or make up He will raise up a beautiful woman who will be herself no matter what, who will not fear to show her true identity.
” So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth.”(1 Cor 5:8)

Be My Witness

One of the most difficult things in our churches today is to see people willing to share God’s blessings upon their life.

The common is just the opposite, one telling A and B about his problems, his failures, his worries without noticing that every person he confides with, about his troubled life, he is “pleasing” the devil’s work by confessing his doubts, weaknesses, despair, confusion before his problems.

Dear reader, your word has power either to bless and change your life or to bring more defeat upon yourself.

Today, I want to focus on the benefits of counting your blessings.

Every time you have good news to share with friends and family members, you are no less than glorifying God and showing that no matter what situation your listener may be going through, there is hope.

Some say that “marketing is the soul for success in business” and this is really true in all areas of life. When you are sharing your happiness, your well-being, your achievement, you are “promoting” the One who has blessed you with that.

If you invite someone to come to church, you can assuredly share of the miracles of the Bible but how much stronger it is when you can share about the miracles God has been doing in your life?

Unfortunately many do not think this way and when blessed they hide afraid of jealous, envy and so many other negative thoughts that do not match with the great power of the One who has blessed them.

And they are loosing the opportunity of being part of God’s plan to advance His kingdom today. The Book of Acts, in the Bible, contains 28 chapters, but have you wondered that you can add one more chapter to this treasure that is reporting the acts of your life and being a disciple for Jesus Christ?

“And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere–in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Now, my question to your dear reader, have you been Jesus’ witnesses lately in South Africa or wherever you are?

Through Me

Every week, in our Women’s Section, we try to publish a quote or a reflection that will lead you to meditate on it. Some are joyful, others bring fun and smiles, and few others cause us to ponder about our life.
I heard something recently that struck me deep inside “I love the Lord and what He has done in me and for me, but the best thing is watching what He has done through me.” And these few words are echoing in my mind more like a reminder of how being a real Christian should be like. It is unquestionable what the Lord has done in us and for us. Just take a glance in your past life; how many disappointments, frustrations, complexes, fears, insecurities, grudges, heartbreaks and look at you now!

You may not be enjoying a perfect life but you will have to acknowledge that changes are undeniable. You are no longer that old and fragile being; you stand now tall and firm as a Child of God qualifying not only for temporary blessings but also for eternity with Him.
Up to this point of the sentence, I was fine with and able to agree to every word but the striking part came when I challenged myself about what is the Lord being able to do through me.
One thing is to accept His grace, mercy and love and His life poured for me but another thing is to be able to lay down my life to reflect His glory and power. And that requires sacrifice! God will not be able to use us if our will prevails to His. We will live the course of our lives not leaving a mark on this world, not impacting others, not making any difference.
Can you acknowledge what God is doing in your life and for you? But mostly is God being able to do any further through you? Each day must count and each day brings up the opportunity to be God’s tool. Think about that.

Women of Faith

Usually when we look at great examples of faith from the Bible somehow the name of our forefathers: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Gideon, Joshua and others will pop out but we cannot overlook the legacy that some women left for us.

Examples of faith and endurance in times of trouble and adversity, these women did more than just exercise faith but they taught that miracles are possible to women of our century much more than in those times when they had no value or rights at all.

When we read about the faith of Abigail, in I Samuel 25:23 we learn that out of her wisdom and courage, she saved her husband’s household of death.

And who can forget of Hannah’s beautiful act of faith and trust by surrendering her son, redemption of humiliation and shame, to serve the Lord.

By faith, these women and many others have changed the course of life, brought blessings upon them and their families, they reached out for their dreams and made possible what was impossible, by human eyes.

We live today in the 21st century when we are emancipated; we have own will, freedom of choices, broaden mind and numerous opportunities of conquering a position under the sun.

We have rights to study, to work, to choose our husband-to-be, to choose our religion, to be active part of a voting society, we can even engage in politics, drive trucks and buses, pilot airplanes, be soldiers and serve our country during war, we can do great things for this world, be celebrities, win the Nobel Prize – most of things that those women of the Bible had never thought of.

However, some of us are missing out the secret for success of our foremothers: faith and sacrifice and exactly because of it, despite of all material and emotional conditions, life is fulfilling its natural course without anything exceptional happening on.

We can do much, we can be heroes, we can change the world but if we do not learn to use our faith and to sacrifice, we do not develop even an inch in our own life.

I leave with you the words of Hannah - words of trust and assurance that God always rewards those who sacrifice to Him:
“ He lifts the poor from the dust – yes, from a pile of ashes! He treats them like princes, placing them in seats of honour.” (I Samuel 2:5).

How about you – are you ready to write the next chapter of faith?

Marcia Pires

Your Legacy

If you have children, there is a worry on how to safeguard the future of your children.

Financial markets come up with a line of suggestions such as life insurance, investment plans, investment for education, medical insurance, 20 year education investment and all other policies that may be created with the purpose of assuring all best conditions to bring up children with a level of comfort and security for the future.

However, we did not hear so far of any plan or investment that may insure them for emotional and spiritual stability.

There are those who rely on psychologists, pedagogy, and therapeutist to bring children to a level of self-acceptance, motivation and high self-esteem but it is more like a treatment course rather than a preventive measure.

Though parents apply their best efforts to raise their children in a healthy physical and emotional environment, there is a natural feeling that they could have done more, better for the sake of their loved ones.

And if, by any reason, you are not hundred percent sure of what you are giving to them, this feeling will hunt you constantly mainly when they become the problem at school, or within the family cell.

So, what to do to close this gap, to quench this uncertainty and to give you the confidence that your work as a parent will remain for years to come and will bear good fruits in them?

In my personal understanding, there is only one policy for success physically, emotionally and spiritually and this is to rely on God for it.

“But I lavish my love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations” Ex. 20:6

When you love God and obey His commands, automatically you will pass it on to your children, without a word, but leading by example.

When your children see in you God’s ways and truths, they will be more confident to face day to day reality, challenges and they will be empowered to overcome their shortcomings because they see you do it.

And there is a great promise on that as well, as God loves you so very much for your love and obedience, His mercy and kindness will be extended to generations to come.

What then will be more reassuring and secure than having God’s blessings upon your children’s life?

Marcia Pires

Happy Mother’s Day!