Heart Work

Hi lovelies! 

Transition periods for me always trigger periods of self reflection. I think it's the feeling of being in limbo or maybe it's because I finally slow down enough to take everything in and think. I'm an overthinker by nature but there's something about getting time to stop and think that allows me to take it a step further into heart work.

No one tells you how chaotic heart work can be.
How real self love is hours of self examination, learning, unlearning and growing into a better version of yourself. Even when you thought you were a good (enough) person and that you've achieved what you'd set out to do in that season. How you'll have to turn your world upside down before putting it right side up again.

On Learning and Unlearning...

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." ESV

You think you've done all the (physical) growing that you do when you become an adult and life laughs in your face. 😩 There are a few things in life that are constant and growth is definitely one of them.

I'm one of those people that has always been excited about growth. Growing taller, growing older, growing wiser and definitely growing spiritually. But no one seems to prepare you for emotional growth. The kind of growth that comes with growing pains like you wouldn't believe. Growth that causes you to go through a period of learning and unlearning. Choosing exactly who it is you want to be and realising that you need to grow on your own, but also that you have to grow with the various relationships in your life. And boy is that a tough one, especially if you're keen on growth while the people around you are set on staying in the same place. Or, if you think you've grown enough in a certain place and then you're placed in a situation where you realise that's definitely not the case.🤦🏾‍♀️

Taking stock: Corantine 2020

Hey lovelies!
Happy Easter 🤗

How crazy is it that the first quarter of 2020 is already done? 🤯 It was just last year that I was counting down to this year and now it's flying past. So while we all have time to read/write I thought I'd do a quick reflection of how I'm doing at the end of it and start this next one on the right foot.😅 Here we go:

Making: So much progress with my studying.
Come on productivity!🥳💃🏾

Cooking/Baking: Pancakes and dessert french toast bc dessert and breakfast foods are my absolute favourites! 😍🤤Did you get the chance to snag the recipe yet?

Drinking: Water, the answer is always going to be water. 😂

Craving: Outside 😭 and I know everyone knows what I mean when I say that.😅 I've been making a list of everywhere I want to go eat once they open outside again cause oomf shaded me about being indecisive.🤣

Faith, Self Isolation Pancakes and other stories

All around the world right now Covid-19 is being spoken about. What started a bad flu making it's rounds in China last October and progressed to cases of pneumonia in December quickly showed itself to be the Corona virus that has spread to all corners of the globe. It has scientists working their hardest to find information on it, health workers in battle against the increasing number of cases they have to treat and governments trying their hardest to keep their people safe. But at the heart of it all is people like you and me who are essential in stopping the spread, once and for all.

How do we do this?
Well, we wash our hands, sanitize, avoid unnecessary contact with other people and most important of all, if you can, stay home. After all home is the safest place you can be, surrounded by all the people you love. I know that's where I've been for the last week.😅

It may seem like the world has stopped, all our favourite things are cancelled, and the media is just out to instil fear in us but that's so far from the truth. There are so so many things that we can get up to and because we have the love of God in us there's no need to be afraid. His perfect love drives away all fear.😍 (1 John 4:18)

An Attitude of Gratitude...

"Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul"
- Henry Ward Beecher

I posted the picture above on my Instagram at the beginning of the year and asked my followers a question: "what is your word for the year?"

As you can obviously guess from the title, mine is gratitude. And while it may seem like a relatively easy one I can tell you now it definitely isn't, especially in a social climate like the one we're living in right now.

I'm not exactly sure when it happened but I stopped writing down resolutions for the year.🤔 Not cause I was boycotting them or anything, but just cause by the time the end of the first quarter came round most of those resolutions had been broken or done away with. And that was quite disheartening. So instead, I decided to go with a theme or a phrase that would help direct my year and encourage me to apply it to all the things that I attempted or went through in the process of it. And I can tell you now that it's definitely changed how I live. 😄

Its the year Two Thousand and Nineteen

Happy New Year!

The other day as it struck midnight and all the fireworks went off signifying the star of the new year, I sat on the couch watching and reflecting.
You know, like a normal ambivert (I'm not going to argue it, I said what I said) would.
Asking myself questions like:

How was it already 2019?
Where had the time flown?
What lessons had I learnt from 2018?
And what did the new year have in store?

So many questions with just enough silence and all the time in the world to think through them.
Fast forward to today, we are a week into the year and I'm finally ready to sit down and put those thoughts into words on your screen. It's been a while since we had one of these heart to hearts and while I post the Taking Stock series every chance I get (I promise those are coming back), there's truly nothing like a good old fashioned deep meaningful conversation (or post in this case).

Out of Christ

Happy Sunday!😁

I know I've been gone for a hot minute 😫 (on YouTube too🙈), but the hiatus was definitely needed. It helped me gain perspective, learn a few truths and adjust my mindset. It also reminded me why I love to write and share my stories in the first place.

A little while ago during a very interesting interrogation 😂 (inside joke) I was asked what my favourite hymn was. Being someone who doesn't like to be put on the spot😩, I asked my questioner to tell me theirs and why that was their particular one.
I've never been so appreciative of someone sharing something like that with me, (maybe one day I'll get them to share) and I don't think I'll ever forget it. So much so that it made me comfortable enough to open up and talk about mine.

Yes, contrary to popular belief I'm not completely extroverted. 😭 I actually have quite introverted tendencies, especially when it comes to talking about myself.

But that's a story for another day.😅

Note to Self: Intimacy with God

Happy Thursday!

I know what you're thinking. Ït's been forever since she sat and wrote something properly on here." And I agree. There's nothing I can say or do that would help you understand just how much I needed the little impromptu hiatus(es) I've been taking over the year, so I won't even get into that. I did miss you though 😉

For those of you who stayed loyal, and kept checking on me every once in a while: I'm ever so grateful! And I see each and every one of you! 👀😍😘

So for you, especially for you, here's a little something I wrote:

There's a special place I'm striving to get to, something I've been learning about for a while.
Come with me as I endeavor to illustrate it with my words.
Or at the very least try to make you smile.😏

Bisous!

x

P.S I've got a fun vlog for yáll coming out soon 😁

Single in a world full of relationships

Other person: "So how's your boyfriend?"
Me: "Lol what boyfriend?"
Them: "The man in your life..."
Me: "Oh, no. I don't have one of those, I'm very single."
Them: "Why are you still single?" 😕
Me: 😂 Am I not allowed to be?

I cannot tell you how many times I have this conversation. Well, not those exact words but you get the gist right? #FunTimes

The Perfect Sacrifice

*God’s Story*

The religious leaders are looking for a way to seize Jesus, so they can hardly believe it when Judas offers to betray Jesus and follows through.

Jesus is arrested and the disciples scatter. When Jesus is brought before the Jewish ruling council, the high priest asks him if he is the Messiah. Jesus answers plainly: “I am” (Mark 14:62). Even though it’s the truth, it’s blasphemy to the religious leaders. They declare Jesus as worthy of death.

Early in the morning, the religious council takes Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor who has authority in capital cases. Because it’s Roman custom to release a Jewish prisoner at Passover, Pilate gives the people the opportunity to release Jesus. But they choose a convicted murderer instead, demanding Jesus’ death.

Note to Self

Dates with Him 😍

It's in the quiet times.

The times when everything around me is still.

The times when the silence is so loud, when life has had it's fill.

That's when He reaches out and touches me.

To let me know that He's still there.

That He's always watching and He'll always care.

That we can just sit and have a conversation.

About everything and nothing.

That we can chat for hours on end and He can tell me something.

Something I may not have heard in the loudness, or in the rush.

Something I may have been asking/searching/waiting for, He just wanted me to hush.

See He's not the type to shout out loud, or to push and shove.

He's such a gentleman and does everything with love.

So in those quiet times, when I can finally listen clear.

I have dates with God, and he tells me all I need to hear.

💗

Motivational Mondays : On (For) women.

Happy Monday!

In a world where women are constantly looked down on, or being put down (by men or other women). A world where we have to fight to be heard/acknowledged. It's comforting to come across pieces of writing like these. On days when God knows I need special encouragement, He always finds a way to send me little love letters through His word. And to think, this message was written oh so long ago, only for me to read it today :). Look at My Daddy God!

My Hate-Love affair with Adulting

Happy Choose-day!

Source

I'm sorry I didn't get you your usual Friday post, I tried to but, I was adulting.

Source

I've been 23 for all of two seconds, okay it happened about a week ago *cue music*, but I can tell you I definitely feel the difference.
So why now?
Why ONLY now?
Why have I decided to be responsible and adult this year?
Well to tell you the truth, I've asked myself that and had a couple of chuckles about it too.

Feature Fridays: Life Changing Mission Experiences; Every Nation Botswana Mission 2016

By: Grace Nonde

So my best friend Mwaba asked me: “What would you say was the difference between the Kenya Mission trip you went on last year and the Botswana Mission trip this year?” 
My answer: “I was able to hear God’s voice much more clearly this time around.”

Let’s rewind a little…
     Last year I went on my first International Mission trip to Kenya. The destination was Kenyatta University in Kahawa-Sukari, Nairobi. 
The way this happened was all God ordained. But that is a whole other story of miracles on it's own and you can contact me if you would like to know more. However, long story short is that  during the Kenya Mission trip last year I encountered God in a way I had never before. The supernatural was so real during the entire week we were there. We got to see many salvations, miracles such as blind eyes opened, spiritually orphaned children returned to their Heavenly Father and a definite change in the atmosphere of Kenyatta University where many Bible Study/Connect groups have been started to incorporate the students we reached out during our time there. 
Matthew 28:19- “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”

Note to self

Wondering what I've been up to while I was away? Well....other than getting back into school after the long, long break. (more on that soon) I've been catching up with people I haven't seen in the longest time and reigniting old (and slightly new) friendships.

This last season  was one of learning from past mistakes and picking up new lessons. It was also about loving God, myself, my family and my friends. Come on now! God has let me longing for more and more!

I cannot wait to see what else He has in store for me!

Bisous

x

That New New thing

Happy FriYay!!

And a happy new month to all of you! *insert heart eyed emoji here*

There are so many reasons I'm excited about this new month. I've been waiting for it all year for starters, and there are so many things going on that I'll get to sharing with you soon. I just felt that i should share with you my excitement about this New month. Have I said New enough times now?  No? Good, cause I was just getting started. Haha!

Come on now! Those words are true and faithful! In the same way that the coming of the New Jerusalem is spoken about, I feel like God is starting something New in my life. And mannnn, does it feel awesome!

Yessssssssssssss!

Are you bearing fruit?

Happy Hump day!!

My devotion this morning said:

"What side are you on? That is the question Jesus is asking in Luke 13:1-8. Are you on the side of right or wrong? The right side leads to eternal life, while the wrong side leads to destruction. Jesus' message is simple: all you have to do is repent of your sins in order to have new life. If you don't repent, then you will perish. God does not desire to cut us down, but rather He loves us and desires us to bear fruit. What fruit are you bearing in your life currently? What sins do you need to repent of in order to start bearing the kind of fruit God desires?"

I absolutely loved it. It embodied the three S's: Short, Sweet and Straight-to-the-point.😄
See the last couple of weeks in various discussions with a friend of mine(with the aid of devotions, a couple of powerful sermons and searching scripture) I've been seriously thinking about the Christian life. It's not enough to just proclaim your Faith 🙅 No no no! You need to bear fruit. How are you going to claim to be following the Lord and growing in your walk when there are no fruits to show for it? Are you really growing? Just as the trees grow and eventually begin to bear fruit, so too should we be in our walk with God. 

Note to self

Have you ever asked someone how they are and been convicted by their answer? 🙆😯🙊
Sometimes we need to deviate from the norm of answering things like "fine/okay/good/great".
Sometimes we need to be real and proclaim the goodness of God in our lives 😍, we need to testify about His grace that is more than sufficient for us.
A conversation I had recently with a friend changed my perspective totally. So much so that I shared it with my mom and my best friends.

  

Feature Fridays: Mercies in disguise

By: Kasela Kalebwe

A while back in bible class, we learnt about bad things happening to good people…

It was a pretty helpful lesson, but not one that stuck cause even though I had come across some bumps across the road, many of them I dug up myself, lol. And every so often, I still do.

But more recently, I faced a ‘bump’ that I thought that even I – the trouble maker that I am, didn’t quite deserve. It turned my life upside. I lost my pillar, my beautiful mother. One minute she was shouting at me for not calling enough, and as the defiant daughter, I thought she was being melodramatic and the next she was gone and I sat there like an idiot wishing I had called her every minute of every day. #harshlessonmuch

If I may put it as blankly as I felt, my world turned upside down. The person I would call when no one could understand was gone. And I felt the deepest, most painful loss ever. I prayed so much for what I thought would be Gods mercy to have Him give her back to me. When that request wasn’t being answered, I asked for Him to take me instead. You know how they say, “Can things get any worse?” And then they did… He didn’t seem to agree with my suggestions to fix the problem so I got upset! I got mighty upset with God… And the irony is, it didn’t make me feel any better, if anything, the sense of loss just dug deeper. . .