My Temporary Hut

Leviticus 23: 33 - 43

The Lord said to Moses, Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord’s Festival of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. For seven days present food offerings to the Lord, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present a food offering to the Lord. It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work. (“‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing food offerings to the Lord—the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day. These offerings are in addition to those for the Lord’s Sabbaths and  in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the Lord.)
 “‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest. On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to the Lord for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. Live in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’”

I sat within the walls of our sukkah and squeezed the fruit in to the mouth. The grapefruit juice messed everywhere and I just smiled! The palm trees which made for a great roof, creaked and swayed in the wind. I am sure God knew when we would all be scattered, that celebrating in a small hut of palm trees would be way difficult out here in the Southern Hemisphere. But every year as we celebrate the Feasts of God, I am so excited to reach the Feast of Tabernacles, it is my highlight - my best light, my most delighted light! God told the Israelites to build tiny temporal dwellings and live in them for seven days. In accordance with His will, we build a sukkah and have a wonderful sukkah party with all our friends. There is something so special about building this sukkah and this year I will truly miss it. We have moved and do not have a garden, so there is no place for our palm tree hut here and boy do I miss it.

I miss the joy of sitting in the Sukkah, the joy of eating in it, the joy of staring up and seeing the stars through the makeshift roof. The fact that as I sit in the Sukkah, I am reminded of my own home, my body, this temporal dwelling place. In fact everyday I am present in a sukkah, because as Paul says one day this mortal body will put on immortality and perishable flesh will put on something better - something incorruptible, something free from decay. Boy I miss building, crafting and creating my sukkah. This year the Feast of Tabernacles takes on a different face for me. Usually it is a season of high joy but this year I have walked through a difficult time leading up to this feast. The weight and glory of a wonderful year rests on my flesh. It was a great year, a growing year with many ups and many downs. The past 2 weeks have been difficult - the enemy is never weary and he never lets up. This year the Sukkah I am running in to is the Shadow of Father's Wings. 
I may not get to sit in a physical sukkah but I get to be present in a Spiritual One and right now that is what I need!

To everyone celebrating Sukkot this year, may you be renewed and refreshed in the Love, Joy and Peace of our King! Chag Sameach Sukkot!

That Old Hat

I walked in to the old book store on the sleepy coastal town where we were staying. The wooden bookshelves were old and expensive, much like the books that filled the shelves. I browsed at C.S Lewis books as usual and all the old classics under the classic section that people seem to neglect. My husband browsed at the war books. The owner, a very old man with a angry face chatted loudly to a friend. The grey - haired men seemed highly strung not the typical demeanor one thought books should induce upon a person. As I walked gingerly passed them, I walked in to a section of the store with high rafters where old hats hung on nails close to the ceiling.

I stared up at all of them, suddenly transported in to the twenties. I stared up and noticed a pink frilly hat with a feather on it. I had to have it, why I could not say, but I had to have it. My husband pulled a note from his pocket and we walked over to the old guys. The store owner laughed "an old hat?" He laughed as if to say why would you walk in to a book store and buy an old hat I am over charging you for? I wondered at it myself but smiled instead. As I paid for my purchase I walked out the store and heard him say in disdain to his friend, "an old hat, my only sale today, an old hat."

I put the hat in the cupboard, looked at it once or twice and felt nothing but a slight comfort at the fact that it was there, safe, in the cupboard. Eventually I threw it away.
How much of who we are is like that old hat. People fumble and look down at the things inside of you that you prize or have prized in your past. Someone laughed when they walked passed and said "pfft what a silly girl you are." Your most valued part of you, your most treasured gift and someone said "oh old hat - my only sale today." How much of you has felt like that old hat. So you brought yourself home, the part of you that was beautiful and valuable and you placed it in the cupboard and you felt comfortable about it because no one saw it and everyone likes you for who you are now. You've become "old hat" at being a good representation of yourself, but never "old hat" at being the real you.

That's how life is - it wants everyone to conform. Those who dont want to conform go overboard often and become goths, with loads of piercings, tattoos and crazy jobs. The girls fart, burp and pick their noises while the guys wear make up because being wierd is better then comforming. But Christ called us to higher - He calls us to look up in to the rafters, where the ceiling boards are high up there and recognise our old hats, the ones we hung away because someone (or maybe many!) told us that part of us was not okay, or likeable or wanted, or valuable.

Well, I am here to tell you that all of you is okay - all the parts of you that you have hidden away, because you have gifts you have tucked away and God is saying "come one my beautiful one, come out of hiding!"
It's time for inventory - how many things inside of you have you hidden away? How many gifts and treasures and things you loved - like feeding birds, to walking in the park, or playing the violin or the harmonica or writing poems that make no sense to anyone but you! That is part of your original design and it's so very much part of you! Take stock this week of what God is re-awakening in you.
Because He is walking through that bookstore and He has looked up - take that hat off the shelf and put it on! it's Time!

What can I do to help a friend who is being abused?

What can you do to help a friend who is being abused?

Christ declared that He came to heal the broken hearted, that he came to bind up what was broken and to set free those who are bound as prisoners. Abuse is a prison, a dark, bottomless prison with no light and no sense of escape. It is into this dark prison that Christ’s voice echoes, in order to set women (and men) who are victims of abuse, free. The reality is that as followers and believers in Christ, He will use us to help those who are hurting because of abuse.  As a researcher and woman abuse activist, I find myself asking how I can help the abused women whose stories I am faced with daily. How can I help an abused friend or work colleague? So I went ahead and begun asking the questions that only abused women could answer, what do abused women need from those who care about them?  I interviewed 60 women at random, in order to find the answer and I want to share with you how you can truly help another woman who is being abused.

The disempowerment of words

Almost 100 percent of the women I interviewed shared with me that they wanted to be supported emotionally and mentally; they wanted someone to acknowledge their pain and their word. They needed and yearned for someone to believe that they had been abused. Let us pause to think about this for a moment. In all our support initiatives and elaborate programs, which are all extremely important for helping abused women; most women just want someone to believe in them and to believe that they are telling the truth. We never stop to think about this, the fact that when a woman says she is a victim of abuse that not many people believe her. If the abuse is psychological or emotional, how does she show you the scars? How does she prove to you or I that she has been a victim of emotional abuse, that her self-worth and pride has been completely destroyed and that she is hopeless? In a world where we need to observe proof, how does she present it when it cannot be seen and all she wants is someone to believe her? The problem is compounded when abused women reach out to the criminal justice system, in order to be granted a protection order to protect her life against her abuser, she first has to prove her case! Again reaffirming the mistaken belief that a woman cannot be taken at her word, because her word is simply not good enough. Belief. An abused woman wants to be believed and supported; both emotionally and mentally. 

Recognition

Recognition is defined as identifying, noticing and showing appreciation for someone or something that is already known. In our case, you may have a friend or a work colleague whom you have known for a long time, she is the one already known and she needs to be recognized. Not through praise or glorification but for the person she is. Abused women are seldom recognized for the woman that they are, simply because that woman has been broken and oppressed, beaten down and disempowered. You need to recognize the woman inside of her, as a friend or colleague, counsellor or pastor; it is your responsibility to help her recognize herself by recognizing who she can still be and helping her “resurrect” again. Recognizing the reality of her situation and affirming your honest belief in her, is what she needs right now. Allow love to guide the way.

 Physical support

More than half of the women I interviewed indicated that they needed physical support for their situation. This is a hard place to be in, many women remain in abusive relationships because of finances, and this is reality. If a woman is a victim of financial abuse, her husband may have control of her salary, and may receive her wage or monthly salary directly into his own bank account. In this situation she has no access to her own funds and if she does leave she will leave destitute, without a penny.

Be sensitive in this situation. Most of us cannot afford to help financially, some of us can; whatever the situation be sensible and always seek to empower the woman you are trying to help. Investigate ways that she can take control of her own salary again; alternately investigate other options available to women who do not have jobs or finances. Women’s shelters may be the last option but do the homework and at all costs protect the privacy and integrity of the friend you are trying to help. Do not share her confidential story with anyone, not even a member of your church unless your friend or colleague has authorized you to. If you do share her story without her consent and it returns to her abuser, the abuse may get worse and may even lead to the loss of her life; this is also reality. It will also destroy trust and support, that your friend or colleague desperately needs, once again show the sincere love of Christ.

I do not want a thing!

Lastly, a few women defiantly told me that they simply did not expect any help, support or understanding from anybody; least of all family or friends. This was sad for me to hear and something that I have wondered over for some time. The reason for this is because research indicates that these same women, who expressed their desire for “nothing from anyone”, are also the women who are still bound in abusive relationships. The connection between not reaching out and remaining silent and continuing within the cycle of abuse is almost definite. I believe the reason for this is because we need one another, I also acknowledge the fact that many women feel guilty about their situations. Many feel that the abuse is their fault and that because they married an abuser they are responsible for making it work. Most of all what we need to remember is that the self-esteem of an abused woman is negatively impacted; this leads to feelings of helplessness. If you have a colleague, friend, mother, sister or neighbour who is being abused but does not want to open up about it, show her love and care do not pressurise her. Many times these women will have a moment of clarity where they realize they need to break free, it is then that they need to know that you are the one to turn to, the one who will be willing to help.

Being a friend and support mate to someone who is a victim of abuse can be challenging. It is hard not to get emotional about things that you hear and stories that she may share. Whatever the case remember the following steps, she needs someone to believe her, she needs recognition for who she is and for who she can be and if you are unable to help her financially or physically investigate ways in which she can receive outside help. Alternatively, if your friend or colleague is unwilling to share about her abuse, be present by showing her care so that when she does need your help; she will know who to turn to. Above all hold these hurting women in prayer; they are the ones who need it most.

Our Heritage Connections

I've been thinking today about heritage. Not as in superficial heritage like having a barbecue on heritage day like everybody does here in South Africa, but heritage, true heritage. Through sea travel, exploration, greed, slavery and colonisation people began to move around in ways they never could before. Poeple took with them, their heritage and customs, others deserted their time bought customs and heritages for something that appeared better on the outside. Some people looked at what they held in their hands and left it behind because it was seen as inferior and of less value. 

On one hand sea travel enabled the gospel to spread across the four corners of the earth. It enabled people to settle in new lands and worlds and create a future for themselves. It enabled us as mankind to realise that we are not confined to a small world view but rather that God is expansive, vast and loves us to enjoy His breath-takingly beautiful creation.

I have recently started reading a book set in Mexico almost 100 years ago. It starts off in a very wealthy vineyard where the key players in the setting, have a strong connection to the land they own and farm. They have a strong connection to their customs (big and small), to the language of Spain and to their status as landowners. There is something about this type of setting that always draws me to stare out the window and wonder. I have no connection to Mexico, no connection to modern day Spain and I don't like wine or even alcohol but I can relate to the connection so many have felt to a family heritage that spanned generations.

My dads family are from Spain, they left the country in the fifteenth century when they got booted out for being Jewish. They sojourned, branching off in to different places and lands. My great- great-grandfather travelled by boat over to South Africa from the U.K. No one in my family had an British accent and further then that no one can pinpoint where any of his other family members went to.
It is kind of a dead end railway line, and even though I have never travelled to Spain and the customs of Spanish people are foreign (quite literally) to me, I do feel that some elements of our bloodline heritages are in there somewhere.
Somewhere we have those connections, somewhere in us we can have passionate Spanish elements, or tea-loving British fettishes. I admire families who honour their heritage, families who can trace their lines back over hundreds of years. Of course this brings both good and bad things to the surface, but in many ways, it establishes some sort of security, stability and belonging. For me it's just beautiful and is valuable to those who have it.

How much does your family heritage mean to you? Is it something you can trace? Celebrate something of your heritage in the month of October!

Embracing Sabbath's Rest

(This Picture is real! It was taken by the Hubble Telescope, if you have still not checked out the amazing Galaxies and stars that are out there, please visit the site! Hubblesite.org)

The sky smiles, it is growing excited as it slips further and further beneath the horizon.

She is not sleepy but perfect, knowing that when she bows her head this side of the Southern hemisphere, she will watch the stars take their flight and pull the canvas down.

The moon and stars will usher in the Sabbath day and then they will smile up in to the Heavenlies, masterfully fulfilling their duty for their Ultimate Master. The Sabbath day has come.

He smiles over at all of creation and thinks back to its inception. The time of its first array when there was nothing evil or a mess, nothing standing in Perfection’s Way.

Nothing at all but the perfect harmony of unity and Love that rested on all of creation in all its perfection.

My Son it is done, Sabbath has come.Call my children to its observance. 

I settle down with my heart full and ready, the candles burn their purposeful flame, they usher in the Sabbath Day. Perfect in all it’s array. The Sabbath Day.

I hold the pages of His word between my palms and recite the blessing, let Your Light illuminate my Heart. 

His eyes are flames of fire, His throne composed of stars and galaxies that keep on forming, His Hands are outstretched with Love, His Palms beat with the nail-pierced scars of His perfect Love.

I settle down to Honour Him, His perfect Law of Freedom written on my heart, I Honour Him and remember the nail pierced palms that bought my freedom. The nail pierced palms that hold me whenever I fall, when I feel I cannot go on anymore. The nail pierced palms and a life given on Calvary’s Hill, 2000 years ago that still continues to alter history and hearts irrevocably changed for eternity. 

I curl up in to His embrace, thank Him for the moon and stars and sky, all that serves Him faithfully day by day. I curl up in to the Palms of His Hand, where He holds me fast, without letting go. Those nail pierced Hands hold me and my beating heart, calling my soul to be still. These nail pierced hands reassure me still, there remains a hope of eternal rest in my years to come, not just for me but for all who would embrace Him here. I pause in to His Hands and rest, thankful that rest is not just future centred but my present – known, because of My Saviour’s Divine Nature and Heavenly ordained Sabbath day.

Hebrews 4: 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
Exodus 20: 8-11  Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Thirty one Meditations from the Heart

This year I decided to connect with the community over at 31 Days, for the challenge of posting each day in October. I am not sure why I am linking up maybe I just don't want to be left out! Haha, but maybe just maybe I am just crazy and want to just wave away at the big community and introduce myself.
So here I am.....

Each day as I share a meditation, I will add it to this introductory post, and see what Father God is bringing out of my heart and what He is saying to me in this season. I am a busy lady, so I may not always be able to share every day but what I am able to do, is just be part of it all and get to meet everyone!
So here goes! (Strangely enough - I had a bad cold for like 14 days, so I didnt get to post up as much as I wanted, but what I did post was epic haha!) Enjoy!

1. Embracing Sabbath's Rest
2. Our Heritage Connections
3. How can I help a friend who is being abused?  
4. That Old Hat 
5. My Temporary Hut
6. Aslan Inspiration Quotes  
7. The Freedom Climb
8. You were not born for Dishonour 

( I want to say thank you to Karen from Finding the Grace Within for helping me with my button!)