It’s been said, and I believe there is only one direction in the Kingdom of God and that direction is DOWN...you gotta go low, hideaway with God if you (wanna go up)...no. I rate we’re pretty much called to stay down there, on our knees and fight the good fight!! Jesus demonstrated leadership by serving...serving...serving. We cannot get away from it :-) Amen...and much joy :-)
I want to illustrate two analogies and somma gooi a scripture at you as well...lets see how this goes and how it all pans out. I learnt a brilliant lesson from TD Jakes at the Global Leadership Summit 2010 – you speak your heart and you trust, pray and believe that Holy Spirit ignites it in the hearts of your audience...yay...its so easy :-) shot Jesus!!
Phillipians 2:6-11 (Today’s English Version)
He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with God. Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness. He was humbles and walked the path of obedience all the way to death – his death on a cross. For this reason God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name. And so, in honour of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees, and will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
I felt Holy Spirit invoke my heart some weeks ago to blog around this scripture and it has become so powerful to me of late and now when I typed it out, it was look w-o-o-o-o-w again.
But the illustration that came from this was quite a simple one and so I trust by God’s grace I will stick to the plan – cause this passage is jam packed.
Check out that last sentence in bold. Have you ever wondered why believers sometimes go on their knees or rather why you don’t? Cause we can replay the scripture over and over in our heads ‘every knee shall bow and every tongue shall proclaim...’ and be like BINGO...we gotta do it!!
Or is there a ‘deeper’ meaning? Like if you had never heard of Jesus or seen church etc. before and one day you stumble across and auditorium of people with hands lifted up, another speaking from a book in hand and other on their knees speaking out and bowing down...in all respects, seeing this for the very first time you might be totally freaked...
But praise God for His Holy Spirit who reveals these things. Our lives spent in Jesus are called to be lives of supernatural power and embrace. Love and honour. God and well totally just God...
So I felt it like this: we fall to our knees, because Jesus is revealed to us as God, by the Father and through His Holy Spirit. Just like when Jesus asked his disciples who they thought he was and Peter answered he is the messiah and Jesus was like yoh...the Father has revealed this to you.
So when we stand or sit there and just bask in his presence and allow his glory to consume us, speak to God and ask that he might be revealed to you, more and more each time. Go on your knees and just proclaim him, the name of Jesus...that he truly is your salvation, healer, deliverer...friend :-) and when you on your knees, read the first few passages (verses 6 – 9), and allow Him to come and stir up your heart afresh...
Now for some fun and such...
Analogy number one
I spoke about this with some friends last night and one of the girls mentioned it to be quite good. I was like yes and amen, it’s from Holy Spirit cause my made up analogies suck ;-p
Imagine you are in a car driving down a road with like traffic lights. Now naturally you kinda wish and pray for all green lights to make your journey go faster...right, cool.
But on that odd occasion, you want a red light...cause you want to take a bite from your Big Mac, or change the cd or reply to an sms (text message) [or twitter or facebook or msn or mxit or bbm or ...].
Sometimes I believe God wants to give us a red light, a pause break to just kinda say “Hey kid, I’m over here”. It’s in times like these that God desires to re-energise us, to draw us in and down low, it’s a time spent with only you and Him. It’s intimate and personal and yup...so never neglect to sometimes turn down yet another event request or don’t feel too bummed when something you were planning on doing falls through – it might be God giving you a red light...and it’s not that he’s being a party pooper...without Him...there would be no party anyways...BOOM :-)
Analogy number two
Weddings...weddings...weddings. YAY!! I have come to grow very fond of weddings in the past year. I had one in April and then December 2010. Two in January 2011, and one each in February and March = 6 in less than one year...PRAISE GOD!! The word marriage is kinda like (Ryan’s made up) Hebrew for ‘THE GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST IN BRINGING TOGETHER A MAN AND WOMAN.’ Ha ha...but so true.
Those of you who enjoy hanging around me know I enjoy times of soaking in God’s presence. A good way to soak is to lie down in your room or at church whilst being ministered to by worship music and now an alternative to this is to attend a wedding...Jesus loves weddings and it’s really all about God isn’t it...totals, He is the alpha and the omega!!
And so lying on my bed in a time of soaking earlier I saw how a bride would walk down the isle with her father at her side. But I also saw how she would get out of the car, with all the guests waiting inside and walk to the door (alone) and wait for her father to come alongside her and then lock arms (or hands...not sure how its really done).
This was significant to me cause it shows how us, believers, the ecclesia (church)...His bride are not able to enter into the wedding and the feast to come if we do not have the father by our side. We can do everything on our own to get to the wedding, but to take that first step into the wedding ceremony is not something we can ever do alone...we need him, we need Christ!!
And so with that all, I great thee beloved...eish...and wish you a splendid 2011!! God is ready to rock out with you this year like never before. Embrace him, embrace LOVE!!
Yours in this awesome amazing journey of releasing heaven on earth...reezy
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Saturday, November 6, 2010
A mixed emotion of sin and drought
Wow...where does one begin – in my last blog post, 25 May 2010 (another year gone by...2 years) I wrote and declared that never again shall I complain about how terrible and stretching and poo poo poo this season has been...
Voice of Truth – Casting Crowns
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand
But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"
Chorus:
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armour
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"
But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
Well, this is kinda gonna be a very spontaneous post and I am really trusting Holy Spirit to bring a message through me, through my life...I message of hope and maybe my own heart will get exposed – I heart that has been crying out, yearning HELP!!
I remember finding Retha McPherson’s story (if you don’t know her...google...facebook...go wild) within the first week of my story and there’s sometimes just those one liners that stick with you, no matter what story you hear – to you, there’s always that one line that poked at your heart that you just kinda harbour on. For me, Retha spoke of how her greatest fear, was her family being in a brutal accident – and it happened...for me, my biggest fear was – GOD...I never wanna loose this honeymoon phase feeling.
So what happened here – KA BOOM – Pappa turned up the testing thermostat!! So my biggest fear, quite frankly my biggest idol, I suppose came to light – exposed for all to see. Sorry if you confused, but here it is – since the day I got saved (25 May 2008), I was party much sold out for the Kingdom – nothing could shake me, cause I knew Jesus and I know he answers prayer and he does!! But I got very used to the feeling, even amidst people cautioning me of my ridiculous conversion – I saw this as okes warning me of growing weary...when in fact I rate it was more like, hey – get ready, prepare...read more about this just now (...)
Then the idol part (yes yes, Harvest – my local family is doing a rocking series on this), whats up with that yo? Well, let me use this gravifying (I think I just made up a word, it means being brought down to earth) example: I like to think we pray with Jesus instead of (the illustration) to Jesus – yes as a Christian (if you are a non-believer reading this blog, I really gotta share this with you, in John 14:6 Jesus himself says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.) I pray to Jesus, but in fact Jesus himself taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:9...right...RIGHT!!
So He’s heard it all before...nah, that’s not what I’m saying – I’m saying he knows us – you and me, every last hair on me head is accounted for, every breath, every waking moment – and then we tell people, come to Jesus – he wants to know you...ha ha, he does know you...but he wants to know you even more, even way more intimate. He wants to have a relationship with you, he wants to hang out with you and just talk to you, and you to him...lovely :-)
So, about praying with him – it makes sense to me :-) cause in idol worship, okes pray to an idol – imagine talking to the wall...and kinda expect things to happen...but as a sane minded fly on the wall, we thinking this guy is nutso’s...but the poor idolater is convinced...eish
So, I fealt that Jesus was becoming an idol to me – I was talking TO him, rather at him...and left very short of any answer, and I doubt that I was gonna get an answer cause I wasn’t seeking him...but rather an idea of him, an idea of good emotions and spirituality wrapped up into one...no no, I have not become new age...promise I haven’t watched Oprah in over two years (gasp...you cant just say that Ryan!!)...ha ha :-)
Yup, so the SIN part in this blog title is the phony-ness (you should really read the Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger – the main character is Holden Caulfield, and he despises phonies) by which I approached the cross, you kinda go to the cross – but instead of walking towards Jesus head on, you walking off to the side a little bit, cause you holding something in your hand that you want nobody to see, less in fact Jesus. Cause heaven forbid he actually asks me to lay it ALL down. Like I only wanted him to see that which I was prepared to give...
1 Corinthians 5:6-7
Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast – as you really are. For Christ our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed
...you see, I had a little yeast hidden, but it infected my whole being, but I really thought only I knew...God is graceful, merciful and just so much better and way more worthy and really good – that he deserves way more than a half truth...a lie. He deserves the truth.
Truth exposes a lie and we can move on. A lie tries to cover up the truth and in fact life just gets swak!!
Now for the fun part...DRINKING IN THE DROUGHT...you know I left part of the story hanging and dangling a bit up there...go fetch it...
The dry times are gonna come, the drought is almost inevitable and it is not to be feared. God is always looking to build his army, right here right now, but are we ready to be recruited?
Life is gonna happen...and when life happens I have realised I need strong okes around me, guys who will defend you and build you up, guys who come alongside and lay down their lives together with you.
This issue of community, family, friendships, brothers (sisters) etc. needs to be settled right now and for all...Jesus himself dedicated his life to other people and see, we are also called to do the same. This is so firmly rooted in the servant hood we are called to...its not a selfish desire to build up a Facebook friend circle – its more than that, its about being part of God’s glorious army. Knowing that when times of testing come, we have a community that stand and pray with us!!
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Men, if you were ever gonna get a tattoo...(and you have never felt convicted by Leviticus...ha ha)...then this is it!!
To clear up, drinking in the drought, is when we are tired, heaven laden and weary – that our brothers would carry us to Jesus Christ. Cause when times get tough, religion teaches us to run from God, but relationship leads up straight to Him!!
Drink of Him always, our very source of living waters...of life and of pure love, and you shall never want...
Love you all so very much...RYAN
[WWJD...I dunno...ask him]
Voice of Truth – Casting Crowns
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand
But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"
Chorus:
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armour
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"
But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
Well, this is kinda gonna be a very spontaneous post and I am really trusting Holy Spirit to bring a message through me, through my life...I message of hope and maybe my own heart will get exposed – I heart that has been crying out, yearning HELP!!
I remember finding Retha McPherson’s story (if you don’t know her...google...facebook...go wild) within the first week of my story and there’s sometimes just those one liners that stick with you, no matter what story you hear – to you, there’s always that one line that poked at your heart that you just kinda harbour on. For me, Retha spoke of how her greatest fear, was her family being in a brutal accident – and it happened...for me, my biggest fear was – GOD...I never wanna loose this honeymoon phase feeling.
So what happened here – KA BOOM – Pappa turned up the testing thermostat!! So my biggest fear, quite frankly my biggest idol, I suppose came to light – exposed for all to see. Sorry if you confused, but here it is – since the day I got saved (25 May 2008), I was party much sold out for the Kingdom – nothing could shake me, cause I knew Jesus and I know he answers prayer and he does!! But I got very used to the feeling, even amidst people cautioning me of my ridiculous conversion – I saw this as okes warning me of growing weary...when in fact I rate it was more like, hey – get ready, prepare...read more about this just now (...)
Then the idol part (yes yes, Harvest – my local family is doing a rocking series on this), whats up with that yo? Well, let me use this gravifying (I think I just made up a word, it means being brought down to earth) example: I like to think we pray with Jesus instead of (the illustration) to Jesus – yes as a Christian (if you are a non-believer reading this blog, I really gotta share this with you, in John 14:6 Jesus himself says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.) I pray to Jesus, but in fact Jesus himself taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:9...right...RIGHT!!
So He’s heard it all before...nah, that’s not what I’m saying – I’m saying he knows us – you and me, every last hair on me head is accounted for, every breath, every waking moment – and then we tell people, come to Jesus – he wants to know you...ha ha, he does know you...but he wants to know you even more, even way more intimate. He wants to have a relationship with you, he wants to hang out with you and just talk to you, and you to him...lovely :-)
So, about praying with him – it makes sense to me :-) cause in idol worship, okes pray to an idol – imagine talking to the wall...and kinda expect things to happen...but as a sane minded fly on the wall, we thinking this guy is nutso’s...but the poor idolater is convinced...eish
So, I fealt that Jesus was becoming an idol to me – I was talking TO him, rather at him...and left very short of any answer, and I doubt that I was gonna get an answer cause I wasn’t seeking him...but rather an idea of him, an idea of good emotions and spirituality wrapped up into one...no no, I have not become new age...promise I haven’t watched Oprah in over two years (gasp...you cant just say that Ryan!!)...ha ha :-)
Yup, so the SIN part in this blog title is the phony-ness (you should really read the Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger – the main character is Holden Caulfield, and he despises phonies) by which I approached the cross, you kinda go to the cross – but instead of walking towards Jesus head on, you walking off to the side a little bit, cause you holding something in your hand that you want nobody to see, less in fact Jesus. Cause heaven forbid he actually asks me to lay it ALL down. Like I only wanted him to see that which I was prepared to give...
1 Corinthians 5:6-7
Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast – as you really are. For Christ our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed
...you see, I had a little yeast hidden, but it infected my whole being, but I really thought only I knew...God is graceful, merciful and just so much better and way more worthy and really good – that he deserves way more than a half truth...a lie. He deserves the truth.
Truth exposes a lie and we can move on. A lie tries to cover up the truth and in fact life just gets swak!!
Now for the fun part...DRINKING IN THE DROUGHT...you know I left part of the story hanging and dangling a bit up there...go fetch it...
The dry times are gonna come, the drought is almost inevitable and it is not to be feared. God is always looking to build his army, right here right now, but are we ready to be recruited?
Life is gonna happen...and when life happens I have realised I need strong okes around me, guys who will defend you and build you up, guys who come alongside and lay down their lives together with you.
This issue of community, family, friendships, brothers (sisters) etc. needs to be settled right now and for all...Jesus himself dedicated his life to other people and see, we are also called to do the same. This is so firmly rooted in the servant hood we are called to...its not a selfish desire to build up a Facebook friend circle – its more than that, its about being part of God’s glorious army. Knowing that when times of testing come, we have a community that stand and pray with us!!
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Men, if you were ever gonna get a tattoo...(and you have never felt convicted by Leviticus...ha ha)...then this is it!!
To clear up, drinking in the drought, is when we are tired, heaven laden and weary – that our brothers would carry us to Jesus Christ. Cause when times get tough, religion teaches us to run from God, but relationship leads up straight to Him!!
Drink of Him always, our very source of living waters...of life and of pure love, and you shall never want...
Love you all so very much...RYAN
[WWJD...I dunno...ask him]
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Two years on...and its only getting more challenging
Two years on...and its only getting more challenging
uhm nope...I’m not being emo...challenges are good :-)
All the amazing Christian authored stuff out there usually starts in prayer...and so I’m keen on that, plus any opportunity to talk to Pappa is good!!
Dear Lord Jesus, Lord help me to write - God that which is on your heart, help me to share my experiences with people so that they might see and hear and feel you in my words and that their eyes might be totally focussed on you and your most amazing love, cover us in your love. Amen.
Yoh, it’s been a rollercoaster ride since my last blog entry. Ups and downs and for some reason more downs in this season. A season I thought I would never see and quite frankly dreaded a little bit, but hey – one thing I know is never look back, unless through the blood of Jesus.
So I wanna declare (prophetically) right now...that I will not start another sentence with ‘It’s been a tough couple of months’...and then proceed with all my junk, I refuse to give the enemy any glory or believe any lie, label or accusation against me as if I were trying to humble myself by dissing myself – that’s why its always a good idea to ask God, “Hey God, what do You say about me” – I usually end up in a joyous laughing fit...wow...how He desires me and each and every single one of us.
Just last week at my small group meeting we played a game of encourage encourage – quite frankly I felt like sitting out, I was feeling so empty...what would God say about me or what would He say through me...what if there is like awkward silence...hectic...ha ha :-) But the words that came, the encouragement, the love, the prophetic words...I was like sjo...JESUS!! How can you see all this!! The truth is, by His Spirit, things were being revealed that were so deeply nestled in my heart, things that I totally take for granted...things I trade off to rather focus on all my junk - that I was convinced God would see my garbage pile and instead give me a word like...do not collect your prize, don’t even start again but go straight to jail...lol, Monopoly!!
Serve (praise) God for who He is...not for who you are!! – SELAH – (that’s Psalm lingo for pause and reflect...)
Quick testimony...the very power of our living God at work...
About a month ago I was wondering the streets and came across Odwa, a car guard dude. He asked me for cash...to buy cigarettes...I said no...(just had to state the obvious), plus I had no cash on me!! I was in a happy place and decided to chat to him, took my scooter helmet off and actually took the time to engage with him. I shared with him a bit of my life...yoh...love talking and especially about what Pappa has done in me. Told him how I smoked for seven years and have been ‘clean’ for almost 2 years – hey...it’s totally 2 years today!! He naturally asked how I stopped and I told him I gave my LIFE to Jesus (heart and all...every body part...ha ha). I encouraged Him with some good Godly council that Jesus could set Him free and well now his money could be used to provide for himself and his family...awe!! He seemed to like this deal and I asked him if I could pray for this...so I just prayed a simple prayer of faith. Tonight...I was rushing out of a pizza place when a car guard approached me, with my helmet already on I felt stirred to take it off and talk to this guy...ha ha...Odwa...I supernaturally remembered his name (this is true...I hack at names), but only after speaking to him for a while and he turned to me and said “I haven’t smoked since that day that you prayed for me” – whaaaaat!! Thank you Jesus!!
That guy, that car guard, that homeless guy, that guy always bothering me (you)...my brother!! When you look at homeless and destitute people in our country, cities, and townships, what do you see...people who need money or people who need love...in what ever way God wants you to present and meet a person’s need...always be asking our Father, what it is that He wants to do. Man I’m touched, this is not a story about a guy who used to smoke and now doesn’t – this is someone’s life who I believe has been changed, Jesus touched him and set Him free!! Amen :-) Hallelujah...
What can you do for His Kingdom that is insignificant? If we are moving with the rhythm of Heaven – you gotta know it’s huge, it’s an invitation for God’s Holy Spirit to touch people...to change lives...
I have so many friends whom go about their business – God’s business and it breaks down strongholds...things such as using your musical ability to lead guys to that intimate place with Jesus, using what God has put in you to do talks around the city about sex and relationships, loving people in the township areas and caring for their needs, having faith to see our university become a place of worship and the list goes on...none of this is insignificant if it is God breathed...and guess who gave breath to your life??!!
I wanna honour every Christian out there who wants to be that difference for our King.
[1 Peter 1:8-9] Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
One of the last thoughts and encouragements I wanna share with you. At our pre service prayer meeting this past Sunday, one of our pastors asked us to take hands and we prayed, united as one body. God spoke these words to me, ‘There are no heroes amongst you, Jesus himself is the saviour and the only true hero...
My biggest light bulb...bummer of a moment...in this past while has been me...me leading in my own strength, being that leader...trying to fit a mould which quite frankly Jesus did not purchase for me!!
‘He knows you, the way He met you’...these were the words I heard that gave me that spiritual awakening. Huh? What you mean God? I think a lot of Christians back down because they are too afraid to give what they got...cause the enemy spreads lies such as ‘it’s not good enough...you are not good enough’.
When I was still in darkness, I had no leadership ability – none. In my own strength I can’t even lead a cat astray...ha ha...like a stray cat!! :-) But through His grace, I believe God is changing my heart towards His, to love people the way He loves people, a raw and powerful love that is God himself.
Now I could try and get up in my own strength and administer this amazing love to people, or I could expect God to show up and use little ‘ol me, the way He desires.
That guy who came to the cross out of desperation and - cause quite frankly - I had nothing more to loose & less than nothing to give, I can just lay my life down (Luke 9:23 – still my all time favourite verse) and expect He will do something great with it.
...come to Him, and lay everything down’
I hope you have found life and encouragement in these few words and I ask that Holy Spirit will stir you up. Come as you are, start laying your own agenda down bit by bit and expect Jesus to show up...He’s here right now with us...He loves you.
LOVE REEZY (Ryan)
uhm nope...I’m not being emo...challenges are good :-)
All the amazing Christian authored stuff out there usually starts in prayer...and so I’m keen on that, plus any opportunity to talk to Pappa is good!!
Dear Lord Jesus, Lord help me to write - God that which is on your heart, help me to share my experiences with people so that they might see and hear and feel you in my words and that their eyes might be totally focussed on you and your most amazing love, cover us in your love. Amen.
Yoh, it’s been a rollercoaster ride since my last blog entry. Ups and downs and for some reason more downs in this season. A season I thought I would never see and quite frankly dreaded a little bit, but hey – one thing I know is never look back, unless through the blood of Jesus.
So I wanna declare (prophetically) right now...that I will not start another sentence with ‘It’s been a tough couple of months’...and then proceed with all my junk, I refuse to give the enemy any glory or believe any lie, label or accusation against me as if I were trying to humble myself by dissing myself – that’s why its always a good idea to ask God, “Hey God, what do You say about me” – I usually end up in a joyous laughing fit...wow...how He desires me and each and every single one of us.
Just last week at my small group meeting we played a game of encourage encourage – quite frankly I felt like sitting out, I was feeling so empty...what would God say about me or what would He say through me...what if there is like awkward silence...hectic...ha ha :-) But the words that came, the encouragement, the love, the prophetic words...I was like sjo...JESUS!! How can you see all this!! The truth is, by His Spirit, things were being revealed that were so deeply nestled in my heart, things that I totally take for granted...things I trade off to rather focus on all my junk - that I was convinced God would see my garbage pile and instead give me a word like...do not collect your prize, don’t even start again but go straight to jail...lol, Monopoly!!
Serve (praise) God for who He is...not for who you are!! – SELAH – (that’s Psalm lingo for pause and reflect...)
Quick testimony...the very power of our living God at work...
About a month ago I was wondering the streets and came across Odwa, a car guard dude. He asked me for cash...to buy cigarettes...I said no...(just had to state the obvious), plus I had no cash on me!! I was in a happy place and decided to chat to him, took my scooter helmet off and actually took the time to engage with him. I shared with him a bit of my life...yoh...love talking and especially about what Pappa has done in me. Told him how I smoked for seven years and have been ‘clean’ for almost 2 years – hey...it’s totally 2 years today!! He naturally asked how I stopped and I told him I gave my LIFE to Jesus (heart and all...every body part...ha ha). I encouraged Him with some good Godly council that Jesus could set Him free and well now his money could be used to provide for himself and his family...awe!! He seemed to like this deal and I asked him if I could pray for this...so I just prayed a simple prayer of faith. Tonight...I was rushing out of a pizza place when a car guard approached me, with my helmet already on I felt stirred to take it off and talk to this guy...ha ha...Odwa...I supernaturally remembered his name (this is true...I hack at names), but only after speaking to him for a while and he turned to me and said “I haven’t smoked since that day that you prayed for me” – whaaaaat!! Thank you Jesus!!
That guy, that car guard, that homeless guy, that guy always bothering me (you)...my brother!! When you look at homeless and destitute people in our country, cities, and townships, what do you see...people who need money or people who need love...in what ever way God wants you to present and meet a person’s need...always be asking our Father, what it is that He wants to do. Man I’m touched, this is not a story about a guy who used to smoke and now doesn’t – this is someone’s life who I believe has been changed, Jesus touched him and set Him free!! Amen :-) Hallelujah...
What can you do for His Kingdom that is insignificant? If we are moving with the rhythm of Heaven – you gotta know it’s huge, it’s an invitation for God’s Holy Spirit to touch people...to change lives...
I have so many friends whom go about their business – God’s business and it breaks down strongholds...things such as using your musical ability to lead guys to that intimate place with Jesus, using what God has put in you to do talks around the city about sex and relationships, loving people in the township areas and caring for their needs, having faith to see our university become a place of worship and the list goes on...none of this is insignificant if it is God breathed...and guess who gave breath to your life??!!
I wanna honour every Christian out there who wants to be that difference for our King.
[1 Peter 1:8-9] Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
One of the last thoughts and encouragements I wanna share with you. At our pre service prayer meeting this past Sunday, one of our pastors asked us to take hands and we prayed, united as one body. God spoke these words to me, ‘There are no heroes amongst you, Jesus himself is the saviour and the only true hero...
My biggest light bulb...bummer of a moment...in this past while has been me...me leading in my own strength, being that leader...trying to fit a mould which quite frankly Jesus did not purchase for me!!
‘He knows you, the way He met you’...these were the words I heard that gave me that spiritual awakening. Huh? What you mean God? I think a lot of Christians back down because they are too afraid to give what they got...cause the enemy spreads lies such as ‘it’s not good enough...you are not good enough’.
When I was still in darkness, I had no leadership ability – none. In my own strength I can’t even lead a cat astray...ha ha...like a stray cat!! :-) But through His grace, I believe God is changing my heart towards His, to love people the way He loves people, a raw and powerful love that is God himself.
Now I could try and get up in my own strength and administer this amazing love to people, or I could expect God to show up and use little ‘ol me, the way He desires.
That guy who came to the cross out of desperation and - cause quite frankly - I had nothing more to loose & less than nothing to give, I can just lay my life down (Luke 9:23 – still my all time favourite verse) and expect He will do something great with it.
...come to Him, and lay everything down’
I hope you have found life and encouragement in these few words and I ask that Holy Spirit will stir you up. Come as you are, start laying your own agenda down bit by bit and expect Jesus to show up...He’s here right now with us...He loves you.
LOVE REEZY (Ryan)
Thursday, September 24, 2009
A Selah-Bration
Revelations 12:11 – They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.
23 Sep 2009
Worship event at my local church, Harvest Christian Church – pretty rad!!
A testimony I gotta share!!
So during the night during a ministry time one of the girls comes forward and my friend Mandi (if you know this girl, you know God has given her such a gifting of emotional healing) doesn’t know the girl and wonders if she should approach to minister to her but she hears God saying to tell the girl ‘he’s not worth it’...so she does this and the girl opens up and says how her boyfriends refuses to accept Christ and His love...a couple of minutes pass and the girl comes back, just had a phone call from her boyfriend – he doesn’t know what’s going on but wants to leave all his mess behind and accept Jesus...!!!
If you one of my unsaved friends reading this, shore – now you start thinking what are the odds or maybe even, wow, check this lekka made up story to soften our hearts and manipulate us into believing this stuff...and then I remember a revelation I had today (as simple as it might be)...LOVE!! A lot of us (me too at times) have a wordly perspective of love...and God is love. If you wanna accept Jesus you need to let him change your perception of love. A lot of us are holding onto love being that thing we feel for our mother or that feeling between you and your girl or your ex – and now its all been ruined...but where is God in these relationships...where is LOVE. So when it gets spoken JESUS LOVES YOU...you’re practically emotionally dead to that line...cause love to you is not the real deal...its not GOD!!
24 Sep 2009
Day of Kindness
www.touchproject.co.za
I got to head up the treasure hunt side of things and it was really awesome – really felt that God’s love had just been poured out in a thickness the night before and us going out would be taking that love out into the streets...in revival times there’s usually visions of waves/tidal waves hitting cities, and I saw this again but the wave was coming with hectic force and then the water would just trickle all through the city and saturate us in His ooey gooey yummy love!!
We had some awesome leaders head up the hunt from different churches around the city – and you know, this brings such lekka flavour to it all!!
My group got clues of red, feather, home shop, hair salon, shelly etc. – and so we pull in on Walmer Main, were Deli-on-Main is and I approached one of the waiters there, James – just prayed a quick blessing over him ad felt the Spirit speak to me about a baby girl, released this word and he said he had a baby girl back in Zimbabwe...Nyasha is her name...I too know a Nyasha from Zimbabwe, but she 21!!
Awesome, so we hung around and stuff...oh yeah, the home decor shop we found was called Red Feather...wow Lord...but being a public holiday was closed :-(
So we mission, and I ay lets go into Bliss Hair Salon, outside the salon in graphic print it reads: Bliss – ecstasy of spiritual joy...ha ha, within seconds we were filled with a Spirit of Joy. We all knew the salon is owned by a Christian...but were like, no we cant go in, this place is too fancy...WHAT!!
Then the Spirit musta spoken through me, cause I just said if you have faith to go in there lets go...so we all went.
Immediately I introduced us and spoke a bit on what a treasure hunt is and that one of our girls had a word for a hand to be healed, we got Richard with a bummed wrist though...whilst they were praying for him, the manager David took me to his office so I could pray for his back – something to do with vertebrae...trusting Jesus for break-through. When I was done praying he lead me to there little kitchen and I was able to pray for a woman – from my church, never met before but she is so Spirit filled...wow...got great words of knowledge for her, then she called another lady Priscilla and also prayed for her getting words of knowledge. Was about to leave when she stopped me and started praying over me – wow, she started breaking curses and generational curses and praying love, prosperity, success over my life – was hectic – i was in that kitchen for about 30min, my team was like frantically trying to locate me...how awesome to wanna bless but get equally blessed.
One thing that this lady said though to all of us (she was just so much encouragement)...was we CHOOSE to take offence...we can just say no thank you and yes, that makes a world of sense!!
Then just to shed some light on a very important matter. I gotta be honest here...plz pray for me...when I am witnessing in the community – its so easy for me to minister to the cleaning staff, or till operator etc. than maybe the cool guy or dude in the suit etc.
Cause just like when we were outside Bliss and we all tuned it was too larny – I now feel myself thinking, wow...did I mean that wealthy people don’t need the gospel? I don’t wanna get too caught up in this, but the short of it is this – yes, the bible says it will be more difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom...cause of their worship for money – no they don’t sit there with their credit card and bow down, but its all about well as long a I have money I am sorted and this attitude sucks!!
I could write and beat around the bush for another year, but the fact is I am trusting God to give me a supernatural ability to reach the wealthy (lost ones) and I really think we can all learn from this.
Store up your riches in heaven!! The bible says it...imma gonna believe it. There’s no way out from the bible...its God’s word...flawless.
So now go preach the gospel to all the nations – young...old, poor...wealthy!!
This day was really awesome, Bliss Hair Salon has such a presence of God, its so great!! And so even in the presence, we were able to see Richard’s wrist healed and he is not a believer and he like the others was very receptive and just cause of God’s presence in that place.
This reminds me of a friend – we go to the same hair dresser, but in Summerstrand @ Shockwave. He was talking to Robyn (the hairdresser) one day about Jesus (I am also always evangelising – I see a cross round your neck and too me that MEANS you wanna know Jesus) and she tuned straight, the only thing stopping me from coming back to the Lord is I don’t want to give up sex...punch, lights out...what now...and when he told me this story I heard the Spirit say, invite her to church, nobody is saying get her to give up sex now...we come to Jesus as we are and trust the Holy Spirit does a work in them...in this context ‘and trust’ – is used in confidence, not like ‘and trust’ – and I wonder, just wonder if the Spirit might.
Guys...get into your word...take up your sword.
I love you all with the love of the Lord :-)
23 Sep 2009
Worship event at my local church, Harvest Christian Church – pretty rad!!
A testimony I gotta share!!
So during the night during a ministry time one of the girls comes forward and my friend Mandi (if you know this girl, you know God has given her such a gifting of emotional healing) doesn’t know the girl and wonders if she should approach to minister to her but she hears God saying to tell the girl ‘he’s not worth it’...so she does this and the girl opens up and says how her boyfriends refuses to accept Christ and His love...a couple of minutes pass and the girl comes back, just had a phone call from her boyfriend – he doesn’t know what’s going on but wants to leave all his mess behind and accept Jesus...!!!
If you one of my unsaved friends reading this, shore – now you start thinking what are the odds or maybe even, wow, check this lekka made up story to soften our hearts and manipulate us into believing this stuff...and then I remember a revelation I had today (as simple as it might be)...LOVE!! A lot of us (me too at times) have a wordly perspective of love...and God is love. If you wanna accept Jesus you need to let him change your perception of love. A lot of us are holding onto love being that thing we feel for our mother or that feeling between you and your girl or your ex – and now its all been ruined...but where is God in these relationships...where is LOVE. So when it gets spoken JESUS LOVES YOU...you’re practically emotionally dead to that line...cause love to you is not the real deal...its not GOD!!
24 Sep 2009
Day of Kindness
www.touchproject.co.za
I got to head up the treasure hunt side of things and it was really awesome – really felt that God’s love had just been poured out in a thickness the night before and us going out would be taking that love out into the streets...in revival times there’s usually visions of waves/tidal waves hitting cities, and I saw this again but the wave was coming with hectic force and then the water would just trickle all through the city and saturate us in His ooey gooey yummy love!!
We had some awesome leaders head up the hunt from different churches around the city – and you know, this brings such lekka flavour to it all!!
My group got clues of red, feather, home shop, hair salon, shelly etc. – and so we pull in on Walmer Main, were Deli-on-Main is and I approached one of the waiters there, James – just prayed a quick blessing over him ad felt the Spirit speak to me about a baby girl, released this word and he said he had a baby girl back in Zimbabwe...Nyasha is her name...I too know a Nyasha from Zimbabwe, but she 21!!
Awesome, so we hung around and stuff...oh yeah, the home decor shop we found was called Red Feather...wow Lord...but being a public holiday was closed :-(
So we mission, and I ay lets go into Bliss Hair Salon, outside the salon in graphic print it reads: Bliss – ecstasy of spiritual joy...ha ha, within seconds we were filled with a Spirit of Joy. We all knew the salon is owned by a Christian...but were like, no we cant go in, this place is too fancy...WHAT!!
Then the Spirit musta spoken through me, cause I just said if you have faith to go in there lets go...so we all went.
Immediately I introduced us and spoke a bit on what a treasure hunt is and that one of our girls had a word for a hand to be healed, we got Richard with a bummed wrist though...whilst they were praying for him, the manager David took me to his office so I could pray for his back – something to do with vertebrae...trusting Jesus for break-through. When I was done praying he lead me to there little kitchen and I was able to pray for a woman – from my church, never met before but she is so Spirit filled...wow...got great words of knowledge for her, then she called another lady Priscilla and also prayed for her getting words of knowledge. Was about to leave when she stopped me and started praying over me – wow, she started breaking curses and generational curses and praying love, prosperity, success over my life – was hectic – i was in that kitchen for about 30min, my team was like frantically trying to locate me...how awesome to wanna bless but get equally blessed.
One thing that this lady said though to all of us (she was just so much encouragement)...was we CHOOSE to take offence...we can just say no thank you and yes, that makes a world of sense!!
Then just to shed some light on a very important matter. I gotta be honest here...plz pray for me...when I am witnessing in the community – its so easy for me to minister to the cleaning staff, or till operator etc. than maybe the cool guy or dude in the suit etc.
Cause just like when we were outside Bliss and we all tuned it was too larny – I now feel myself thinking, wow...did I mean that wealthy people don’t need the gospel? I don’t wanna get too caught up in this, but the short of it is this – yes, the bible says it will be more difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom...cause of their worship for money – no they don’t sit there with their credit card and bow down, but its all about well as long a I have money I am sorted and this attitude sucks!!
I could write and beat around the bush for another year, but the fact is I am trusting God to give me a supernatural ability to reach the wealthy (lost ones) and I really think we can all learn from this.
Store up your riches in heaven!! The bible says it...imma gonna believe it. There’s no way out from the bible...its God’s word...flawless.
So now go preach the gospel to all the nations – young...old, poor...wealthy!!
This day was really awesome, Bliss Hair Salon has such a presence of God, its so great!! And so even in the presence, we were able to see Richard’s wrist healed and he is not a believer and he like the others was very receptive and just cause of God’s presence in that place.
This reminds me of a friend – we go to the same hair dresser, but in Summerstrand @ Shockwave. He was talking to Robyn (the hairdresser) one day about Jesus (I am also always evangelising – I see a cross round your neck and too me that MEANS you wanna know Jesus) and she tuned straight, the only thing stopping me from coming back to the Lord is I don’t want to give up sex...punch, lights out...what now...and when he told me this story I heard the Spirit say, invite her to church, nobody is saying get her to give up sex now...we come to Jesus as we are and trust the Holy Spirit does a work in them...in this context ‘and trust’ – is used in confidence, not like ‘and trust’ – and I wonder, just wonder if the Spirit might.
Guys...get into your word...take up your sword.
I love you all with the love of the Lord :-)
from getting back on the streets to getting MY FIRE BACK!!
Wednesday 9 September 2009
I am at home – have not hit the streets in ages!! Decide to go out – hear God say legs and arms, ha ha...see absolutely no bummed legs or arms but continue missioning.
Come across a group of cleaning staff and really just feel, well I’m just gonna jump out there and offer prayer...and lead them to tell me about their aches and pains...wow man, this stuff is fun!!
Ended up praying for better jobs and one of the lady’s was healed – bad back if I remember correctly.
TESTIMONY TIME (personal stuff)
So I was in east London from 8 Sep to 13 Sep. Wow...I spent less than zero time in the word. This year has just been so busy and there are times when my walk has been supernaturally easy and it’s like I’m being carried, but then there are those times that I am just like whatever – this trip home was one of them.
Spent no time in the word...fell in various areas but testimony of God’s grace – I was able to just get back up – but its the whole yo-yo vibe – fall, repent, fall, repent...until you fall so hard you just grab the word and don’t stop reading till temptation goes back to...well...hell!!
I got an opportunity on the Friday to bless a jobless man with baby food. I had fifty rand in my hand to go buy snacks and stuff when this guy, Jonathan comes up t me and explains how he and his wife are struggling to find employment and they have a 3 month old...I was listening and all and then he spoke up about the baby food and how it cost R49.95 – I though what...never given a ‘beggar’ that much before, but hey I got this fifty and it cant be a coincidence. So we mission down to Spar and we chatting and stuff – oh yeah, by this time I had forgotten about snacks, I mean really...I havnt seen a gym in over a month...ha ha.
So as we walking I am asking him about life and he keeps asking me to organise him a job – I respond I have nothing, cause I just would not know now...wow, typing this though I feel guilty, I mean I could make a plan. So anyway he casually mentions how he has not eaten in 3 days...WHAT!!??!! I feel my Spirit say cool, baby food and buy the family some supplies...spent R80 on a stranger that day...but is he really a stranger? Looking at the world through God’s eyes we will start seeing things like they should be...there’s scripture in early new testament speaking of how God provides all we need – clothes, food etc and in James about if you have the means to bless a brother you cant just tune ‘okay bless you...by’!! This was pretty cool...learnt some lekka lessons and all honour to JESUS!!
Sunday in church – morning service – awesome!! Russian couple, wife is preaching...ever experienced Holy Spirit filled fire driven Russians...WOW!!? During worship get a word of knowledge God wants to set people free whom have suffered strokes...release the word...and s i l e n c e !! Ha ha...Lord!! Ah well...after the service two people respond...amen!! Such a lesson in pride...massive lesson...its about obedience and risk.
Then get a second word about someone in a red jacket needing prayer...dont find the person till...
Monday 14 September 2009
Back in Port Elizabeth driving past the airport...Spirit says red jacket in the airport...GO!!
Okay cool, so mission into the airport and true as bob...there he is. Only one red jacket in the whole place and so was able to pray a blessing over this dude, Ross from Namibia going back to Rhodes, Grahamstown – student @ varsity...cool!!
Thursday 17 September 2009
Just visiting a friend at his apartment and we walk out of his building, there’s a woman – mid fifty’s I suppose waiting by the door to be let in when I feel moved by the Spirit we have to offer her prayer.
So we back up and start speaking to her, we ask if she needs prayer and she responds saying her daughter’s leg is badly hurt. We lay hands on her and pray.
Monday 22 September 2009 – as we are walking out of my friend’s flat again, the supervisor stops us and asks if we are the gentlemen whom prayed for the lady...I got a bit nervous...we said yes, he said well...THERE HAS BEEN DRASTIC CHANGE...wow Jesus...never in a blue moon was I ever expecting to hear a report back on this prayer...I just have faith her leg is healed cause my Jesus don’t leave you half healed!!
Friday 18 – Sunday 20 September 2009 (will add more about this later)
Joshua Generation Church, Cape Town – visiting here in Port Elizabeth at Oxygen Life Church. Andrew Selley is a legend!!
FIRE FELL!! I got a fresh impartation...and thats the vibe...WOW!!
www.joshgen.co.za
www.oxygenlife.co.za
Monday 21 September 2009
Friend comes over for coffee, we have some muffin tart...yes...finish laughing...its a muffin in a tart format...it was wow.
After finishing about ¾ of it, I feel the urge to hit the streets quick quick – hear the Spirit speak of 6 slices, cut up the tart and go not too far from home and talk about Jesus a lil and the word I got about 6...ha ha, we had 6 guys there...till Jacqueline appeared from nowhere...she started beating her husband up...uhm...awkward...five minutes later she came back and asked for prayer...her ankle was healed, she had been in an accident. Also saw a knee healed...praise Jesus!!
That night...hit Sasol in Summerstrand – release the glory and saw another ankle healed and just prayed a blessing over some people.
HARD CORE TESTIMONY TIME
It is easy to become complacent, and when a friend comes up to you and says well Ryan, I see you losing your fire...its like you wanna choke!! But...when you spending enough time with Jesus (24/7)...its rather hard to become complacent!! FAITH + ACTIONS...this is what God is speaking to me these days...Rev 3:20 Here I am, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
Whats the significance of such a simple verse...Jesus wants in...let Him in!!
This is how I feel the Spirit lead me to break it down (like understanding...not hip hop)
1. Jesus announces Himself at our heart’s door & knocks – God always gives us a choice, hence why Jesus is not just like rushing in;
2. We need to hear and discern His voice – by living a righteous life and keeping our spiritual ears open and clean;
3. FAITH & ACTION = hear + open;
4. Then He will come in - a promise;
5. Then Jesus comes in and engages with us (eat with him) and he allows us-AS WE ARE-to engage with him (and he with me).
I was born again in May 2008 – baptised in the Spirit – July 2008 – baptised in water Sep 2008 – experienced the fire April 2009...and somehow I started to run dry till the Josh Gen weekend...God spoke to me about LOVE...loving others through Him & now I am making sure I spend decent amount of time in the word...God’s Word...our Sword!!
The Holy Spirit is fun, but we need the word in our walks as well!! Father, Spirit and Son live in absolute unity...the perfect relationship...how can we want to keep on separating them...are you nuts!!?? Ha ha but seriously...Jesus loves you...and I love you cause Jesus loves you!!
Hope you enjoying my blogs...I actually wanna know what you think – are you being encouraged...or do you think I have lost the plot:
Facebook me: www.facebook.com/ryanodendaal
E-Mail: ryanodendaal@gmail.com
I am at home – have not hit the streets in ages!! Decide to go out – hear God say legs and arms, ha ha...see absolutely no bummed legs or arms but continue missioning.
Come across a group of cleaning staff and really just feel, well I’m just gonna jump out there and offer prayer...and lead them to tell me about their aches and pains...wow man, this stuff is fun!!
Ended up praying for better jobs and one of the lady’s was healed – bad back if I remember correctly.
TESTIMONY TIME (personal stuff)
So I was in east London from 8 Sep to 13 Sep. Wow...I spent less than zero time in the word. This year has just been so busy and there are times when my walk has been supernaturally easy and it’s like I’m being carried, but then there are those times that I am just like whatever – this trip home was one of them.
Spent no time in the word...fell in various areas but testimony of God’s grace – I was able to just get back up – but its the whole yo-yo vibe – fall, repent, fall, repent...until you fall so hard you just grab the word and don’t stop reading till temptation goes back to...well...hell!!
I got an opportunity on the Friday to bless a jobless man with baby food. I had fifty rand in my hand to go buy snacks and stuff when this guy, Jonathan comes up t me and explains how he and his wife are struggling to find employment and they have a 3 month old...I was listening and all and then he spoke up about the baby food and how it cost R49.95 – I though what...never given a ‘beggar’ that much before, but hey I got this fifty and it cant be a coincidence. So we mission down to Spar and we chatting and stuff – oh yeah, by this time I had forgotten about snacks, I mean really...I havnt seen a gym in over a month...ha ha.
So as we walking I am asking him about life and he keeps asking me to organise him a job – I respond I have nothing, cause I just would not know now...wow, typing this though I feel guilty, I mean I could make a plan. So anyway he casually mentions how he has not eaten in 3 days...WHAT!!??!! I feel my Spirit say cool, baby food and buy the family some supplies...spent R80 on a stranger that day...but is he really a stranger? Looking at the world through God’s eyes we will start seeing things like they should be...there’s scripture in early new testament speaking of how God provides all we need – clothes, food etc and in James about if you have the means to bless a brother you cant just tune ‘okay bless you...by’!! This was pretty cool...learnt some lekka lessons and all honour to JESUS!!
Sunday in church – morning service – awesome!! Russian couple, wife is preaching...ever experienced Holy Spirit filled fire driven Russians...WOW!!? During worship get a word of knowledge God wants to set people free whom have suffered strokes...release the word...and s i l e n c e !! Ha ha...Lord!! Ah well...after the service two people respond...amen!! Such a lesson in pride...massive lesson...its about obedience and risk.
Then get a second word about someone in a red jacket needing prayer...dont find the person till...
Monday 14 September 2009
Back in Port Elizabeth driving past the airport...Spirit says red jacket in the airport...GO!!
Okay cool, so mission into the airport and true as bob...there he is. Only one red jacket in the whole place and so was able to pray a blessing over this dude, Ross from Namibia going back to Rhodes, Grahamstown – student @ varsity...cool!!
Thursday 17 September 2009
Just visiting a friend at his apartment and we walk out of his building, there’s a woman – mid fifty’s I suppose waiting by the door to be let in when I feel moved by the Spirit we have to offer her prayer.
So we back up and start speaking to her, we ask if she needs prayer and she responds saying her daughter’s leg is badly hurt. We lay hands on her and pray.
Monday 22 September 2009 – as we are walking out of my friend’s flat again, the supervisor stops us and asks if we are the gentlemen whom prayed for the lady...I got a bit nervous...we said yes, he said well...THERE HAS BEEN DRASTIC CHANGE...wow Jesus...never in a blue moon was I ever expecting to hear a report back on this prayer...I just have faith her leg is healed cause my Jesus don’t leave you half healed!!
Friday 18 – Sunday 20 September 2009 (will add more about this later)
Joshua Generation Church, Cape Town – visiting here in Port Elizabeth at Oxygen Life Church. Andrew Selley is a legend!!
FIRE FELL!! I got a fresh impartation...and thats the vibe...WOW!!
www.joshgen.co.za
www.oxygenlife.co.za
Monday 21 September 2009
Friend comes over for coffee, we have some muffin tart...yes...finish laughing...its a muffin in a tart format...it was wow.
After finishing about ¾ of it, I feel the urge to hit the streets quick quick – hear the Spirit speak of 6 slices, cut up the tart and go not too far from home and talk about Jesus a lil and the word I got about 6...ha ha, we had 6 guys there...till Jacqueline appeared from nowhere...she started beating her husband up...uhm...awkward...five minutes later she came back and asked for prayer...her ankle was healed, she had been in an accident. Also saw a knee healed...praise Jesus!!
That night...hit Sasol in Summerstrand – release the glory and saw another ankle healed and just prayed a blessing over some people.
HARD CORE TESTIMONY TIME
It is easy to become complacent, and when a friend comes up to you and says well Ryan, I see you losing your fire...its like you wanna choke!! But...when you spending enough time with Jesus (24/7)...its rather hard to become complacent!! FAITH + ACTIONS...this is what God is speaking to me these days...Rev 3:20 Here I am, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
Whats the significance of such a simple verse...Jesus wants in...let Him in!!
This is how I feel the Spirit lead me to break it down (like understanding...not hip hop)
1. Jesus announces Himself at our heart’s door & knocks – God always gives us a choice, hence why Jesus is not just like rushing in;
2. We need to hear and discern His voice – by living a righteous life and keeping our spiritual ears open and clean;
3. FAITH & ACTION = hear + open;
4. Then He will come in - a promise;
5. Then Jesus comes in and engages with us (eat with him) and he allows us-AS WE ARE-to engage with him (and he with me).
I was born again in May 2008 – baptised in the Spirit – July 2008 – baptised in water Sep 2008 – experienced the fire April 2009...and somehow I started to run dry till the Josh Gen weekend...God spoke to me about LOVE...loving others through Him & now I am making sure I spend decent amount of time in the word...God’s Word...our Sword!!
The Holy Spirit is fun, but we need the word in our walks as well!! Father, Spirit and Son live in absolute unity...the perfect relationship...how can we want to keep on separating them...are you nuts!!?? Ha ha but seriously...Jesus loves you...and I love you cause Jesus loves you!!
Hope you enjoying my blogs...I actually wanna know what you think – are you being encouraged...or do you think I have lost the plot:
Facebook me: www.facebook.com/ryanodendaal
E-Mail: ryanodendaal@gmail.com
Thursday, August 13, 2009
My Salvation Testimony - 25 May 2009 - 1 Year
This might seem lame but I’ve had it on my heart for over a month now to sorta just write out my salvation testimony and some random stuff!! This is a big deal for me, cause its not like I just flicked on the Jesus switch...its more than that...its a new life!!
Today, 25 May 2009 I celebrate one year of recommitting my life to the Lord...wow has it been fun!!
I was quickly searching my computer for a word document that I might have composed last year recording my first couple of weeks but stumbled upon something even juicier, I could not believe it!! It’s a document entitled “my walk with GOD” – it only has two entries (haibo) – the first was on the 18th Feb 2008:
“18 Feb. 08: God has a purpose for my life
I think God wants to use me, I want him too. I hope I’m not being lazy, just sitting back and waiting for him to swing doors open for me!? So, I must pray, read the bible and talk to others about what God might want, need or expect of me.
I’m kinda stuck right now, went to church last (NG, Summerstrand) night and the pastor lady read a bible verse…’we must cut out the evils from our lives, i.e. non-believing friends etc.’, huh?? A lot of my friends are non believers, or luke-warm to ice cold Christians, what now? How will God show me whom to turf out of my friendship circle, what if I am the only one left standing? Just writing this makes me feel like a unfaithful friend, but at judgement day I want God to pick me for Heaven, so is this a sacrifice I gotta make?”
Flip!! Was I really crying out then already to know Jesus more intimately? Exciting stuff!!
Anyway, my testimony (as I had it before finding the above):
I found Harvest Christian Church in middle 2005 – a guy called Ray told me about the church and I was keen on checking it out – at this stage of my life I was going to NG Klema every now and again, but when I went back home to EL for holiday’s etc. I would be very amped on church and my walk with God would usually intensify...that was always strange...come to think of it.
So, my very first experience of Harvest was at a Sunday morning service...quite promptly after praise & worship I realised that I had never been to the 6th Avenue Shopping Centre...ha ha...I must have gone back that night, hoping there would be more young people and indeed there were. I cant remember exactly how I felt and all but after talking to Fred the other day, he assured me I looked very insecure...I can relate to this though!! I was very quickly introduced into a cell group and was really enjoying it but I wasn’t making any friends and so after 4 months of that I just gave up on cell.
Fast-forward...2008!! Out of the blue (approx 2 years later) I get an sms from Vovo, one of my old cell mates asking me to come to cell again...I was very happy to oblige cause man 2008 got off to such a rough start with me having to basically redo 3rd year for one 6 month module...you gotta love accounting!! So much so that I had actually started falling into a mild depressive state and started going out more regularly than before...not good!!
So I stuck around in cell, went every Thursday and was always very excited to attend the big Joshua Zone celebrations – the ‘Joshua Zone’ is Harvest’s young adult zone – but I always had this longing, to just belong – I wanted what a lot of those people had and in all honesty, I did not know what they had cause from my perspective we were all Christians and happily going to heaven no matter what you got up to from Monday to Saturday...cause Sunday is church day.
Anyway, so it was about the second congregational of the year (or first) and it was great and all – remember seeing that very huge all guys cell (Fred & Ash), yoh, desperately wondering what it was that even those guys had...this is also were I learnt that my good friend Melvin had found the church...hmmm...a previous random meeting in the beginning of the year would never have lead me to believe that we would meet again in a church...but praise God...HE IS GOOD!! Ja, so...congregational was done and they guys upfront offered prayer and to my surprise I found myself in that line...I remember 3 people pray over me and I got 3 words: 1. gain more self confidence, 2. I need Christian friends and 3. I need to disciple my existing friends...hectic God...what you going on about?
So, I left that for about a month thinking well what now?
25th May 2008...I remember getting a sms from Dave Walland sent to the Twenty20Destiny society members – yes guys, even in my ‘state’ I was attending Christian things and really enjoying God’s presence, even if...[brace yourself, gonna tell this story]...1st Twenty20 event was the drumming thing – after which I went to Nelia’s house...praise God, another convert (ha ha)...oh ja, flip man and Melvin was there...yet another convert...and partied and stuff. So yes, I was literally the definition of luke warm Christian with 1¾ of my feet in the world!!
Coming back to the significance of the sms...I got this sms about the Twenty20 prayer @ NMMU on Tuesday morning - meet outside Madiba’s. WHAT!?! You okes are crazy praying in public...was what I was thinking!! Gonna pick up this story just now again...
Harvest @ 18:30 that night: it was like any other service I suppose but after the sermon there was like extended praise & worship...I had a friend with me that night and after she had left at about 20:30 I went back into the service (dunno why) and I knelt at the front of the church and just submitted to God, saying you put those 3 things in my heart...HELP!! What now??
That point right there ladies and gentleman was where I became saved/born again etc. – not very glamorous (ha ha), but it worked!! ;-)
At this point in my life I was struggling with a lot of things that guys hack at (read Every Young Man’s Battle – not gonna get gory here) and yes...I even smoked...tisk tisk!!
That night after getting back from church I knew my life was changed...I just knew it. I hadn’t publically made the declaration or had someone chat to me but I knew something had started...this felt so exciting but I could not explain it, almost instantaneously God took all that was bad right out of my life...so much so, that I had only realised the next Friday that I hadn’t even smoked once that week...say what and I HADNT EVEN NOTICED!! Right now, say: GOD IS AMAZING!! And...all those guy troubles...vanished...just
My first week as a new person
Monday – life was great, it just felt so different.
Tuesday – went to that wacky public prayer thing, thinking God...plz lemme get lost in a crowd I cannot pray in public...NO WAY!! There were about 20 people and I met Lance – my first Christian friend whom invited me to Wednesday night outreach.
Wednesday – went to outreach, met another bunch of awesome people. Got invited to SonSurf and...here it comes, just laugh...I distinctly remember Lance being in that cell – the one from congregational with all the cool guys and Melvin (ha ha)...and so when Lance asked me if I was in a cell...what else was I gonna answer but NO...I had been waiting for this day for like forever...seriously...Fred
Thursday – my new cell – sorry Debbie (old cell leader) – I met Niel (amongst many), all I remember is him looking at me and saying, “Jus bru, I’m so happy you are here” – that ne...meant the world and a half to me!! (Arbitrary but ja)
Friday – went to Bongani’s cell on campus...ja, 3 cell’s in one week!! I remember actually sharing my salvation story that night...was awesome...
Looking back real quick – I can see how God started putting people into my life, after that first week I had met a ton of great solid Christian okes...I love all my brothers!! And sisters!! Also, my self confidence started building up, but was still shallow...and for quite some time...ha ha, my self confidence that is!!
Week 2 – was Harvest’s first week of revival, I was in church every night and growing so so close to God and pretty quickly at that. Remember being wacked by the Holy Spirit that Friday night and being so drunk in the Spirit...I was just so free and God was (still is) my absolute everything...a week and a bit ago I was just going about life, but here I am giving God my all...fantastic!! But eish, these night’s of revival and not spending anytime with my ‘friends’ (I had a very tight bunch of 3 friends...VARA) lead people to believe that I had run off and joined a cult – I really don’t use this word lightly because some people really did think this. I remember that Sunday breaking down and wondering why...God, everything is going so good...why cant people just see the change in me and well...join in!! But alas, friendships have never been the same, but I trust God is leading me into places from the past where I am now starting to restore lost ties...amen!!
From here onwards things get a bit more non-specific...dont wanna write a screen play!!
One year later and Jesus is still rocking my world...I’ve been able to start stepping out in the most amazing ways!! Things I wanna still write about: Transkei Mission, JZ camp, Groundswell – my baptism, Gogo’s shack, healings etc...
Love you all so so much...REEZY :-)
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Heaven...WOW!!
So, visited a friends’ cell group tonight: Dirk Naude and Mandi-Rae Wood, by the way...they rock big time and Jesus thinks they pretty amazing and so do I!! There cell was intensely huge tonight (hmmm...Jesus had a plan) and a friend of ours, Robyn Harvey was at the cell – she was a first year at the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry ‘last year’.
Mandi had an awesome word and then Robyn was asked to ‘lead us to heaven’...wow...here is my account, as much as what I can now remember.
He had some awesome instrumental soaking music playing in the background and Robyn asked us to imagine a pink elephant...we did that and she encouraged us by saying yeah, pink elephants don’t exist, its our imagination...we have the mind of Christ...and anything we were to experience from hereon forward was from God, as we relaxed our bodies and concentrated completely on what our thoughts were showing us.
Robyn told us to go to a happy place; I have this grassy hill with a cross and that Jesus would meet me there...and He did, He came walking from the ocean that was surrounding me, all the places in my experience are nature intense and beautiful!!
Then Jesus took me off to an awesome jungle area, green and an awesome river, there he gave me a gift...it came in sort of a jewellery box...it was an amazing coin of some sorts, a precious coin – cant necessarily remember the significance now – something on the lines of, Jesus was giving me my dreams, giving me the power and authority to take hold of my dreams...
Then Jesus took me off the meet with the Holy Spirit...gotta just live the Spirit and his freeness...the Spirit took me off to a canyon, and then we rose up, flying towards this cliff, we entered this cave inside the cliff and started hovering above these canals in the cliff and I saw hundreds of sheep, at one point I thought I was in Noah’s arc, but then the sheep turned into people...but they weren’t too happy looking...next thing we were standing on top of the cliff and the Holy Spirit was telling me favourite memories he has of me – day I got saved, baptism, time I prayed for the sick people in the emergency room etc. and He gave me two gifts – first gift was a scarf, he danced around me, sort of teasing me with the scarf wrapping it around my neck – the scarf was many beautiful colours, each one representing a (spiritual) fruit. The second gift was a necklace, and he told me that as this necklace adds beauty to ones appearance, so if I ‘wear’ the Holy Spirit, my appearance would become absolutely beautiful!!
I then went off to visit Papa (Father God), He was so at peace, busy sculpting this beautiful wooden horse (was like a miniature rocking horse) for me – I remembered how Jesus was a carpenter and Papa told me of course, Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing, I asked Him what He was doing and He told me He was just busy running the universe – but in such a awesome way, not boastful at all. He gave me the horse and explained how I always dream of riding horses and assured me that when I come home one day I would be able to just ride horses for like forever.
He then kept tickling me on my stomach and I was laughing...he explained that, that’s how He created me...he made me ticklish and so hence He was tickling me and just having a blast!!
Then we went off to play some games, we played some rugby and hockey – I sucked at rugby, but had loads of fun with Papa and enjoyed the Hockey but got hurt and He just encouraged me and took me in His arms and I was all better.
I asked Papa to show me something about me and he showed a stage, I was preaching to a group of young people – a dream of mine, but never actually prayed about it because it’s just way big...God showed me that my possibilities are endless and He sees my full potential.
I asked Papa to give me a gift for someone and He gave me this awesome, beautiful diamond ring for this girl I study with...
Then we came back...
[Tried to remember all as best as possible, but might have left some stuff out.]
Mandi had an awesome word and then Robyn was asked to ‘lead us to heaven’...wow...here is my account, as much as what I can now remember.
He had some awesome instrumental soaking music playing in the background and Robyn asked us to imagine a pink elephant...we did that and she encouraged us by saying yeah, pink elephants don’t exist, its our imagination...we have the mind of Christ...and anything we were to experience from hereon forward was from God, as we relaxed our bodies and concentrated completely on what our thoughts were showing us.
Robyn told us to go to a happy place; I have this grassy hill with a cross and that Jesus would meet me there...and He did, He came walking from the ocean that was surrounding me, all the places in my experience are nature intense and beautiful!!
Then Jesus took me off to an awesome jungle area, green and an awesome river, there he gave me a gift...it came in sort of a jewellery box...it was an amazing coin of some sorts, a precious coin – cant necessarily remember the significance now – something on the lines of, Jesus was giving me my dreams, giving me the power and authority to take hold of my dreams...
Then Jesus took me off the meet with the Holy Spirit...gotta just live the Spirit and his freeness...the Spirit took me off to a canyon, and then we rose up, flying towards this cliff, we entered this cave inside the cliff and started hovering above these canals in the cliff and I saw hundreds of sheep, at one point I thought I was in Noah’s arc, but then the sheep turned into people...but they weren’t too happy looking...next thing we were standing on top of the cliff and the Holy Spirit was telling me favourite memories he has of me – day I got saved, baptism, time I prayed for the sick people in the emergency room etc. and He gave me two gifts – first gift was a scarf, he danced around me, sort of teasing me with the scarf wrapping it around my neck – the scarf was many beautiful colours, each one representing a (spiritual) fruit. The second gift was a necklace, and he told me that as this necklace adds beauty to ones appearance, so if I ‘wear’ the Holy Spirit, my appearance would become absolutely beautiful!!
I then went off to visit Papa (Father God), He was so at peace, busy sculpting this beautiful wooden horse (was like a miniature rocking horse) for me – I remembered how Jesus was a carpenter and Papa told me of course, Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing, I asked Him what He was doing and He told me He was just busy running the universe – but in such a awesome way, not boastful at all. He gave me the horse and explained how I always dream of riding horses and assured me that when I come home one day I would be able to just ride horses for like forever.
He then kept tickling me on my stomach and I was laughing...he explained that, that’s how He created me...he made me ticklish and so hence He was tickling me and just having a blast!!
Then we went off to play some games, we played some rugby and hockey – I sucked at rugby, but had loads of fun with Papa and enjoyed the Hockey but got hurt and He just encouraged me and took me in His arms and I was all better.
I asked Papa to show me something about me and he showed a stage, I was preaching to a group of young people – a dream of mine, but never actually prayed about it because it’s just way big...God showed me that my possibilities are endless and He sees my full potential.
I asked Papa to give me a gift for someone and He gave me this awesome, beautiful diamond ring for this girl I study with...
Then we came back...
[Tried to remember all as best as possible, but might have left some stuff out.]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)