October =)

Hey =) Happy October! =D When I was home the past one and a half weeks dad told me in a really gentle way that I need to ask God to help me out with my procrastination haha. And yeah he's right I've been all over the place this past year. He suggested that I use a planner (he said "diary" coz that's what we call them in Kenya) and write down all the things I need to do. And I used to do that, so I decided to do so... There's this 2 year planner that Diana gave me a while back so I picked it up and opened to October. And October is pretty special because IT'S MY BIRTHDAY! :D lol I actually share a birthday with my lil sis Olivia, yay! Birthday twins! hehe :D But I also wanna share some more reasons why October is special.

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IT'S TIME TO REMEMBER THE PROMISES OF GOD :D

"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God." (2 Corinthians 1:20)

On the Calendar it gave a specific flower and birthstone. So the birth flower for October is Calendula and the birthstone is Opal. And you know how I am, I decided to look up the spiritual significance of Opal and it said that the color of opal is iridescent (diffracts many colors) and that symbolizes the promises of God.

This was quite on point coz I went to the prayer shed last night for prayer and prophecy night and they told me not to forget God's promises over my life and to keep my eyes on the prize... to keep my eyes on Jesus. To be consistent and steady in my walk with Him coz that's how the promises will be fulfilled... in His Time. And this was confirmation for what God's been telling me over the past few weeks, things I already know, and also what God's been telling me through others. And all weekend this song below, "Standing on the Promises" has been playing in my head (especially in the car this past Friday with Brittany and Alexis on our way to The Call at UC Berkeley).

I also read this from this one site... but when I kept on reading I found out that it was new-age-y so all I took from it was this: "Opal is a stone of inspiration which enhances imagination and creativity. It can bring inspiration to projects and to life and Spirit. Its own spirit is at times like that of a child spontaneously playing, dashing color where ever it  pleases. ..Opal has a larger proportion of water in it than most stones and is considered a water stone. This can help ease the effort of handling change in life. Like water rolls over and past rocks and roots in its way, the energy of opal can help continue on your path regardless of obstacles... Opal is known as a stone of love." http://meanings.crystalsandjewelry.com/opal/

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OCTOBER 16TH: RELATIONSHIPS, UNITY, PUSHING FORWARD FOR VICTORY

Okay so this is really cool I just looked up calendula, the birth flower of October and saw this: Calendula means "little calendar" or "little clock" in latin and the common name, "marigold" refers to virgin Mary (Wikipedia). Sometimes called "summer bride" or "husbandmans dial" because its flower head follows the sun (Birthstone site).

That's cool confirmation for keeping the"eyes on the prize" word. Plus on our way back from Berkeley on Sunday we were singing in the car and Brittany suggested we just sing spontaneously (from our hearts, whatever the Spirit led us to sing), she begun then Alexis but I was just silent in the back seat thinking about stuff. Then Alexis was like "Charlene it's your turn, I think you have a song" but I was like "No" then a bit later Brittany was like, yeah I think you should sing a song about "Time." Which is funny coz it was related to what I was thinking/praying in my head so I decided to just sing... And I sung the prayer in my heart, "Awaken our hearts to your coming Son... [well I can't remember all the words but it was something like:] ... Awaken your bride... that we may be one... rooted in love... leaving the past behind... fill us with Your spirit... Your power... You are all we need... Give us Your heart for the harvest."

IT'S OUR TIME : CHURCH AWAKEN, UNITE AND FIGHT FOR LOVE

Something else really cool is about my birth day, October 16th, I was pretty shocked to see this post on Elijah List... it was encouraging...so honored to be born on such a significant day :-)

But before that, I saw this picture on campus the other day below the poster for "Images of Africa" and the same day the words, "The final push for victory" and "Together we go further" stood out to me from an email and in the bus respectively lol... bear with me coz it's related with this next portion. Read the whole thing at October 16th Prophecy I'll highlight some stuff and I quote:

"In this dream, the date was October 16th. I observed Kathryn Kuhlman standing on stage... she began to prophesy:"All those born on October 16th have a special anointing. And there's a special anointing being released to the Body and it's very powerful!" The scene quickly changed and I was standing outside where I observed ancient, black wrought iron gates. They were rather scary looking because of their size and age. These ancient gates were perhaps twelve feet high and thirty feet in length. They were attached to a black stonewall on either side like a fortress. The gates had been closed and locked for many, many years. As I looked closer, I could see thousands of people standing behind the closed gates. In fact I could see no end to this massive gathering of people. There were people from every tongue, tribe and nation. However in unity, as one Body, they all worked together to push open the gates. Then breaking through the darkness into the light, they all ran quickly to receive this anointing Kathryn Kuhlman prophesied and released. -End of dream. I believe this is an important date and new beginning for the Body of Christ. October 16, 2014 is a Jewish holy day called Shemini Atzeret. The Hebrew word "shemini" means eighth, and prophetically the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles indicates a new beginning for the coming harvest. According to Jewish tradition, Shemini is the ending of the holiday of Sukkot and the beginning of "Time of our Happiness or Joy." It's the end of one season and the beginning of another.

Recently in two separate visions, I saw the Church awakening. Where she was presumed dead, new life was breathed into her. When she awakened, immediately she humbled herself and embraced Wisdom. The evidence of striving, bitterness, unforgiveness and jealousy quickly left her body. Instead of being old and crippled she was strong, healthy and joyful. She was spiritually mature and led by the Holy Spirit of Truth. She embraced everyone with love and kindness, yet spoke with authority and everyone called her Blessed. (Photo by Linda Harris-Iorio Consuming Glory via elijahshopper.com)

I believe October 16th is a significant date this year as the harvest begins in full swing. Christ in us (the Body of Believers) the Hope of Glory, will be evident in the Church. The whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord (Habakkuk 2:14) as the captives are set free from bondage and the Church embraces Wisdom." -End of quote. hOW cOOl is THAT???!!! :D :D :D And there's more!

Sorry I'm just throwing different stuff at you... but last week I had watched "October Baby" on Netflix and it was all about forgiveness, letting go, healing, redemption, love, family and moving forward. Great movie! =)

 

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OCTOBER: "Come Together- Remember, Reconnect, and Unite"

Okay, so I'm at school (My first day at Antioch Uni getting my Masters) so I stopped writing to go to class and on my way to class I check my email and this is what I see: "Come Together: Remember, Reconnect, and Unite" as the subject of an email from UCSB: "On May 23rd, the Isla Vista community was stunned by a tragedy that we will never forget. On the following day however, we came together in a way that our neighborhood had never before seen. The feeling created from the candlelight vigil is a feeling that we wish to embody once again. It is a new year for Gauchos and the Isla Vista Community, and as such let us look towards the future with positivity, renewal, and resiliency. The students at AS Program Board as well as other Associated Students entities would like to invite you to, "Come Together: Remember, Reconnect, and Unite." This memorial event is made by the students and for the students, and will feature student speakers, a message from Vice Chancellor Michael Young, as well as live music and special entertainment. Please spread the word and join us once again, not only in remembering the loved ones we lost, but also in solidarity to forge a better future for Isla Vista."

So what are some of the promises I'm talking about? Well here's one of them that concerns Santa Barbara and the world... way back in 2011 when I was in InterVarsity at that Leader's Retreat when we had some unusual occurrences and my life was radically rocked and freed by the power of God's love (post: Hello Africans... ) God gave many of the students there visions that confirmed the dreams that He gave the staff over the summer that a huge revival is coming to Santa Barbara (and the prophetic word that Kathyrn Kuhlman gave in the 70's that one day a huge revival would happen in SB and spread around the world (post: Let There Be Light) In the visions there would first be a lot of conflicts and division in our midst  and even violence in our land but after that there would be unity in the body of Christ, unity in prayer and walking in love and that's when the breakthrough would happen. So it's really cool to keep track with God's promises coz NOW IS THE TIME! :D In a vision that Alex Jensen had, we were holding hands on a hill with the cross in the middle then our friends who were not yet believers were behind us climbing to the top of that hill. Right now in IV and at UCSB so many coalitions and new programs have formed after the tragedy that happened last school year... so many people are having conversations about how to better our community, living in peace and loving each other, becoming united... and all that is really great and exciting. And it's also a wake-up call for the church coz we know it is only through Jesus that we can have true and lasting transformation so we need to rise up and model that... we need to put Jesus back in the center of our lives and communities... we need to pray and wait for His Spirit to do only what He can do. We need to ARISE and SHINE! The whole world is waiting for us! Even the prison system won't be left unshaken when we awaken... post: Prison Break.

Check out the video below as well as this encouraging confirmation: "Many of you are in your third trimester. Don't abort the baby because your due date is drawing near. Get ready to push... Doors are about to open for what I have called you to do...  In the same way that Mary was impregnated supernaturally, you will also conceive supernaturally. You are also carrying something so valuable that will change the world if you submit to it...Just as Mary's cousin Elizabeth was also pregnant and the baby leaped in her womb, I will also bring others to you who are also carrying divine destiny. I will place people in your life who are also pregnant with the same vision. They are those who are in alignment with the same dream. Together you will work in unison and there will not be any disunity....You will know that you are in the third trimester as the discomfort intensifies. Don't try to induce labor before its time, but welcome My plan as it comes into existence.  This is not the time to give up but get ready to push because you will soon see the fulfillment of the promises that I have for you," says the Lord. Read the rest at:Birthing the Promises of God: "Get Ready to Push" 

DO YOU NOT PERCEIVE? IT'S TIME!:D LET'S WAKE UP CHURCH! =)

 

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October 8th Blood Moon ("Little Clock, what's the time?")

Blood moon is happening tomorrow! I saw this article on yahoo news  that says that this blood moon will be even more rare than the others, it's a selenelion: "Skygazers could witness the sun rising simultaneously with the total eclipse of the moon, a visual phenomenon known as selenelion. The rare cosmic sight, which could only happen just before dawn or right after sunrise, is marked by both the solar and lunar bodies appearing just above the horizon at almost the opposite sides of the sky.Read more: http://www.techtimes.com/articles/17243/20141006/blood-moon-on-october-8-rare-selenelion-promises-to-be-a-treat-for-skygazers.htm#ixzz3FX1fQIXH

The moon takes on a deep-red color during a lunar eclipse because of the Earth's atmosphere. If you were on the moon during a lunar eclipse, Earth would have a red ring around it as it passed between you and the sun. This red glow projects onto the moon, giving it its red hue during a total eclipse, as shown below. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/heres-see-wednesday-mornings-rare-112100679.html

I was excited to read that as it reminded me of this Saturday at The Call which was on the 50th anniversary of the Free Speech movement as well as Yom Kippur (The Day of atonement) when the high priest would offer up a sacrifice to cover the sins of the people of Israel... but now the ultimate sacrifice was that of Jesus on the cross on behalf of all the sins of the whole world, once and for all. So when I read that the earth would have a red ring around me made me think of the blood of Jesus encircling the whole earth signifying redemption through the blood of Jesus... and also the earth being baptized by the fire of the Holy Spirit . REVIVAL TIME! :D

I can hear the rhythm of the Lion of the tribe of Judah... He's doing a New thing! That's why we're singing a New Song! He's Alive!

"His eyes will be darker than wine... // These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire." (Genesis 49:12a and Revelation 1:1)

"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." (John the Baptist talking about Jesus) ~ Matthew 3:11

So what the little clock says is WE ARE LIVING IN THE END-TIMES! And yes there's stuff popping up all over the place like ebola and ISIS :((, signs in the heavens, wars and rumors of wars </3... and yes Jesus gives us the signs of the end times to watch for in Matthew 24. So yeah, the darkness will increase but we shouldn't be afraid coz that's the BEST TIME FOR THE LIGHT TO SHINE BRIGHTER THAN BEFORE. God is with us and wants to empower us not just to endure but to THRIVE in these days! Go JESUS! Have Your way in us :D

The Day of the Lord (Joel 2)

²⁸ “And afterward,

    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

    your old men will dream dreams,

    your young men will see visions.

²⁹ Even on my servants, both men and women,

    I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

³⁰ I will show wonders in the heavens

    and on the earth,

    blood and fire and billows of smoke.

³¹ The sun will be turned to darkness

    and the moon to blood

    before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

³² And everyone who calls

    on the name of the Lord will be saved;

for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem

    there will be deliverance,

    as the Lord has said,

even among the survivors

    whom the Lord calls."

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Sorry this post is all over the place... getting back into blogging has been tough.
K peace and love! =)
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Update: So much has happened!  GOOD IS SO GOOD!! Will share soon~!~

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WOW! :D (photo posted by Aaron Jones)

Okay here's some of the update: I couldn't make the "Come Together" event at UCSB but it was amazing to see the pictures and video clips people posted of it. And here's what was on the "Bottom Line" paper: "For the Isla Vista community, attending this event brought us together and helped us heal... There was a feeling of hope and resilience in the crowd despite the excitement over Jack Johnson, and that is what is most important. People remembered, and people celebrated, but most importantly, people cared enough to show up."



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Check it out! There's a City-wide Prayer and Outreach week this week Oct 25- Nov 1. Cool~!~

#LoveSB =)

 

 

 

GOD'S PROMISES ARE UNFOLDING! =D

Jesus, please help us fix our eyes on You and follow You Forward! To walk by Faith and not by sight. To walk in unity and love and not in strife. To let the light of Your love captivate us and guide us to our destiny - to be who You created each and every one of us to be. That each of us may bloom and flourish as we find rest in Your Love and as we RISE UP and TAKE OUR PLACE. FOR YOURS! IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER AND THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER AMEN!

P.S: This has been a very generalized post --- just gave the overview message (in all it's scatteredness) and it's specifically for the church -- but I am yet to address how this specifically relates to the church in Santa Barbara so stay tuned... to the Holy Spirit! (I can do nothing for you or myself so let's look to Him! Just sharing what I'm learning along the way :-) But yeah, let us PRAY. Now's the time. Related post: Time to SEEK, A Call to Prayer, A Call to Unity in the Body of Christ, Be One )

"A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.." (Isaiah 40:3-5)

 

♫ Every high thing must come down! Every stronghold must be broken!

You wear the Victor's crown! You overcome! You overcome! ♫  :D



 

Ok last songs! We ARE ALIVE! Let's COME ALIVE! =D

 

 

So much POWER=> Heavy Love!...

So Let's L O V E each other NOW... Sisters and brothers N O W =)

 

 

And lastly, =)

UNITY! =)

Hey everyone =) sorry I haven't been blogging this summer so I'm really behind on sharing what God has been teaching me. So I saw the post below on a facebook group a while back and it was exciting to read and encouraging coz I had the idea of planning the "Dream of a King" unity worship event for this summer but I was discouraged by all my failures over the years. But yeah, God is really creating unity around the world which means global revival is about to happen soon!! Check out what was going on in Kenya:


Tr DanielThe Voice of Christian Youth Foundation

Exactly 1 month to the GLOBAL REVIVAL- KENYA CHAPTER event with the servant of God Apostle Mary Magdalene Wangui :

A date like of today next month, one of the biggest and most significant event to the body of Jesus Christ and nations of the world will be taking place here in Nairobi, Kenya at Uhuru Park grounds.

Preachers from different countries of the world will be gathered at Uhuru Park for the GLOBAL REVIVAL event. Local and international gospel artists will also be there, not to entertain but to praise the King of kings as they tap into the revival grace for their singing gifts.

From Africa we have preachers attending from South Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Congo, Malawi, Zambia, Cameroon, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Botswana...The rest from Europe, America and Asia.

Continue praying with us for revival in the ongoing 90 days of global revival prayers that began on 1st June and concludes on 30th August with the gathering at Uhuru Park from 30th Aug. to 1st Sept. 2013. Pray for the event too!

If you would like to invest in this Global Revival event either materially or financially call us on the number below or email: apostle@thewillofGodchurch.net

If got any questions please call today: +254717 287782.‪#‎GlobalRevivalKE‬

Unlike ·  · Share · 5 minutes ago near Nairobi, Kenya · 

• You like this.

I was going to do this post after I read it but I was mostly busy, exhausted and overwhelmed this summer so I didn't. And then last week I found out about this ONE LOVE event that happened at USC on August 28th.

• 
  

I didn't go to the event but I heard it was really powerful! Check out the event page on facebook! =)

Tonight at 7pm in the MCC is "The Dream of a King" event. It's poorly planned. But God has brought me this far in spite of my failures and weaknesses. And I'm just standing on His Word and going ahead with the event. Please pray with me for breakthrough. I know I need it! Lord we want more of You! Baptize us with more of your Love. Spirit break out! Break our walls down! Spirit break out! Heaven come down! Amen. All the Glory goes to You Lord! Show us Your glory tonight! =)

(Oh yeah, and it's a New Year!! New Beginnings! Rosh Hashanah (head of the Jewish year holiday) was the past 3 days! Praise God for a Fresh Start and New Mercies!! He makes beautiful things out of us! =)

"Listen, a noise on the mountains,

    like that of a great multitude!

Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms,

    like nations massing together!

The Lord Almighty is mustering

    an army for war." (Isaiah 13: 4)

God is building His army now. Preparing us for war.  WE ARE His army. UNITED we stand! Check out my previous posts: UNITED, Be ONE, ONE New Man... and the rest about the importance of Unity! Let's do this!! #Acts1-2 :) What's the war we are being prepared to fight?... ohhh the battle is raging! More details to come! 

Here Comes the Bride-Groom! :D

Hey friends :) So during Winter break this song just came to me: "Sound the alarm! The King is coming back. He is coming for His bride- all dressed in white. He is coming for His bride- pure and refined." (click here to listen: video) So yeah Jesus is coming back soon so He wants us to be prepared. He is refining us! More details to come! =)

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, right at the door." (Matthew 24:32)

Let's wake up to the exciting times we are going into! These are the days!!! =)

Watch this powerful skit. Ready? Are you Ready? He is coming! =)

Let's pray this powerful prayer and surrender our all to Jesus!
Let's be prepared for His coming! :)

Related post: The Sun that shines at night.

Prepare the Way! :)

Santa Barbara, California. "The City no longer deserted" :)

Pass through, 

pass through the gates!

Prepare the way for the people.

Build up, build up the highway!

Remove the stones.

Raise a banner for the nations.

The Lord has made proclamation

 to the ends of the earth:

“Say to Daughter Zion,

 ‘Behold, your Savior comes!

Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’”

They will be called the Holy People,

 the Redeemed of the Lord;

and you will be called Sought After,

the City No Longer Deserted.

(Isaiah 62: 10-12) =)

• 

  December 4, 2011

  Charlene Wambũi Macharia

  • Hey Shayne, Bubba and Thaddeus :)

    I have something cool to share, some encouragement for being Worship leaders.

    
    

    It's cool, yesterday and today I've been led to read passages that show the important role that musicians play in a season of renewal/revival (consecration/dedication-> which then leads to revival).

    
    

    *When Solomon was dedicating the temple to God*

    "The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the LORD’s musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the LORD and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, “His love endures forever.” Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing." (2 Chronicles 7: 6)

    
    

    * When Hezekiah was purifying the temple*

    He stationed the Levites in the temple of the LORD with cymbals, harps and lyres in the way prescribed by David and Gad the king’s seer and Nathan the prophet; this was commanded by the LORD through his prophets. So the Levites stood ready with David’s instruments, and the priests with their trumpets.

    
    

    Hezekiah gave the order to sacrifice the burnt offering on the altar. As the offering began, singing to the LORD began also, accompanied by trumpets and the instruments of David king of Israel. The whole assembly bowed in worship, while the musicians played and the trumpets sounded. All this continued until the sacrifice of the burnt offering was completed.

    
    

    When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshiped. King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed down and worshiped.

    
    

    Then Hezekiah said, “You have now dedicated yourselves to the LORD. Come and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the temple of the LORD.” So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings.

    ( 2 Chronicles 29: 25-31)

    
    

    => So I think God is "stationing us" (pruning us, leading us to trust Him more and to surrender our all to Him and bringing us closer to each other-unity) for the purpose of drawing us into deeper intimacy with Him and also using us to draw other people into worship through music. So yeah so we are on a journey together, let's hang in there and keep supporting each other through prayer (and any other way). God has good plans in store for us as a worship team (and individually) :)

    May God give us His peace, wisdom and favor as we study and take our finals. God is with us! yay! :)

    
    

     Charlene :)

    
    ___________________________________________

    
    

    Let us prepare the way for the Lord by surrendering our all to Him! (God loves us with an everlasting love and He'll keep chasing after us until we give Him our whole heart. He won't relent until He has it all =) Let's also prepare the way using all the gifts and talents He has given us for His glory! :-) Watch this video I made:

    
    

More confirmation about the coming a great awakening and the integral role played by musicians in such a season.

Spring Rains

Listen! My Beloved! 
Look! Here He comes, 
leaping across the mountains, 
bounding over the hills. 
My Beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. 

Look! There He stands behind our wall, 
gazing through the windows, 
peering through the lattice. My Beloved spoke and said to me, 
“Arise, my darling, 
my beautiful one, come with me. 
Behold! The winter is past; 
the rains are over and gone. 
Flowers appear on the earth; 
the season of singing has come, 
the cooing of doves 
is heard in our land. 
The fig tree forms its early fruit;  the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. 
Arise, come, my darling; 
 my beautiful one, come with me.” (Song of Solomon 2: 8-13)

At the beginning of this quarter God gave me a peek into this season we are now in. He told me that it is "a time to mourn and a time to dance." (Eccl. 3:4b) At first I was like, "Ohkay...Weird! What kind of bipolar season is this? How can I be both miserable and happy at the same time? lol" Then what He told me made a lot of sense. He reminded me of this Scripture: "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18).  He showed me that this was spiritual warfare. There's lots of the devil's strongholds in the land and a lot of people don't notice (behold) them and it for this reason He wants me to mourn (fight in the spirit: fast, pray and interceed). The whole year I've been caught up fighting ground warfare (going to endless meetings to talk about problems which just magnified them) and this wore me out and kept me from focussing on the solution, which is acknowledging God (fasting, praying, interceeding, singing, dancing). So yeah He told me to stop that (focusing on problems) in order to focus on Him, rest at His feet and have fun with Him :) because He is in control. He also told me to remember who I am. He reminded me of how in Kenya in all our gatherings we would always pray, praise and worship (singing, dancing, being, sharing). So pretty much He was telling me, it's time to be yourself. "You are free to be yourself "(Check out my Freedom album on facebook).

"Garden" by Misty Edwards: http://youtu.be/_tgTdUA0CwI

"Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises,He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth" (Hosea 6:3) So come Holy Spirit! I'm looking forward to sowing in this season (dying to myself, taking my eyes off the world to focus on Jesus; seeking Him in all that I do) in order to reap (the fruit of the Spirit, to walk by faith/ walk by the Spirit). So let it rain! :)

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Beauty & the Beast: "To be Human Again"

So the other night I was watching Beauty and the Beast with my little niece (rather, I watched segments of it as my mum was braiding my hair as I was multitasking on the computer haha). Anyway, I've seen it before, quite a few times since we own the video, but this time I kinda saw it from a different perspective which I wanna share. So buckle up! and let's ride =) (If you have no patience/time then just read the closing remarks :)

~~~Prologue~~~

For those who are not acquainted with this Disney classic here's the Prologue (2.52min) : http://youtu.be/2IZaBeWgFqo

-> So yeah, according the the fairy tale, this one

young Prince had everything his heart desired but one day an Enchantress came along to test him.. He failed the test and was therefore turned into a hideous beast due to a selfish decision he made, the decision not to love. Not only did his decision affect him but also his whole castle and all who lived in it were placed under a powerful spell which would only be broken if he could learn to love another and earn their love in return before the last petal fell. If not he'd be doomed to remain a beast for eternity. "As the years passed, he fell into despair, and lost all hope, For who could ever learn to love...a Beast?

-> This prologue reminded me of yet another prologue, not of a fairy tale this time but of the story of reality. A story of a man and a woman (Adam and Eve) created in God's image enjoying life in the Garden of Eden until the Tempter came along to test them. They failed the test. They choose a candy-coated life sentence. They choose not to abide in the love and harmony created for them, but choose to satisfy their lust and greed hence they choose not life but death. They leave the garden ashamed and under a curse, in fact, all of creation falls under the same curse. The only way to break the curse is through a relationship with Love.

~Love came to the Rescue- The First Coming~

*Belle( "Beauty")- In the story, Belle (Beauty) ended up being separated from her father and got stuck living with the Beast and she later started to fall in love with him despite his obvious flaws. The love of Beauty, the antithesis of his 'beastliness' is what was necessary to break the spell.

*Jesus ("Savior")- In reality, God sent His son not just to live among us but to take upon Himself the punishment of our sin. It is the love and sacrifice of this loving and Holy God that sets us free from the curse.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinne

rs, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:10)

"To be Human Again" (http://youtu.be/MetM68Lr9U8 )

Once Belle and the Beast started to hit it off, the subjects of the castle were filled with hope for the day that the spell would finally be broken so that they could be set free "to be human again." Here are some of my favorite lines from the scene:

Lumiere:

Ha ha, we, my friends.

The day we have waited for may be at hand!

Cogsworth:

When I'm human again

Only human again

When the world once more making sense

All:

When I'm human again

So sweep the dust from the floor!

Let's let some light in the room!

I can feel, I can tell

Someone might break the spell

Any day now!

All:

Sweep up the years

Of sadness and tears

And throw them away!

Lumiere/Babette:

Shine up the brass on the door!

Alert the dustpail and the broom!

All:

If all goes as planned

Our time may be at hand!

We'll be gliding again!

Stepping, striding as fine as you please

Like a real human does

I'll be all that I was

On that glorious morn

When we're fin'lly reborn

And we're all of us human again!

->This song rings true for reality. It reminds me of this passage.

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." (Romans 8: 18-25)

(If this passage doesn't make sense just read on, it will make more sense by the end, hopefully :)

*Redemption & Restoration- The Second Coming*

So just when they had started falling in love, Belle had to leave the Beast to be with her father who was ill but she had promised to go back to the beast. The Beast started to lose hope of her return the more she delayed... Belle had ran into complications named Gaston and his angry mob lol, who ended up trying to kill the beast in a battle between Gaston and his mob versus Belle and her castle friends trying to defend the beast. That's what happened right before this clip. Here are my favorite quotes from the clip:

Beast: You came back

Belle: If only I'd come here sooner

Beast: Maybe it's better this way.

Belle:No! Don't talk like that. We're together now.

Everything will be fine. You'll see.

-> Then the beast dies. And undergoes his long-awaited transformation into the handsome Prince he once was. Belle gets to see him as he is and as they reunite in a passionate kiss, the spell is also broken off the castle and its subjects and they are transformed! Their prayer was answered! They were finally reborn! Made human again! In the words of Lumiere, "It's a miracle!" And they lived happily ever after =)

*Back to reality: Jesus came, lived among us, demonstrated His love for us by dying on the cross and taking our punishment upon Himself, He rose from the dead thus conquering even death and setting us free from the curse of death, freeing us to be who we were created to be: sons and daughters of God, royalty! He then returned to be with God the Father in heaven where He is preparing a place for us. And He is coming back for us so that we can be with Him forever and we can live happily ever after with Him in His Kingdom of Heaven :D

" See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure." ( 1 John 3: 1-3)

"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18)

We started with Genesis in the Garden of Eden so let's end in Revelation when Eden is restored: (Revelation 22)

"No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever." (vs. 3-5)

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. (vs. 12-14)

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. (vs. 16- 17)

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. (vs. 20-21)

____________Closing Remarks_____________

For me, seeing the bigger picture gives me Hope.

I get discouraged a lot since I'm not as close to God as I used to be. Yeah He still speaks to me through His Word and speaks through me and stuff but communication is possible without intimacy, but I want intimacy as well. Sometimes He seems so far away. So I'm praying that He gives us the power to believe in Him and His promises. He said He'll never leave us nor forsake us- even when we stray He is right there waiting to receive us with arms wide open. I pray that He gives us the power to understand this kind of love and grasp all that He has freely given to us. I pray that He also gives us the power to persevere through all the difficulties of this life (all the Gastons and angry mobs that try to weigh us down and keep us from experiencing God's love).

Listen to this really powerful song:

"You're Never giving up" by Jonathan & Melissa Helser:

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

(Romans 8: 31-35, 37-39)

His Love NEVER fails...(1 Corinthians 13).

Be encouraged! Let's place our HOPE in His unfailing love.

He is coming back soon!

Songs:

"Midnight Cry" by Michael English:

• http://youtu.be/XCCetFSra3c

"Yeshua" by Fernandinho:

• http://youtu.be/l0g9RMydGMk