{"id":58,"date":"2020-08-15T16:52:26","date_gmt":"2020-08-15T16:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sparkys-blog.online\/?p=58"},"modified":"2021-02-12T13:54:34","modified_gmt":"2021-02-12T13:54:34","slug":"be-a-narrative-in-his-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sparkys-blog.online\/index.php\/2020\/08\/15\/be-a-narrative-in-his-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Be a narrative in His Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We are, I think, in month six of lockdown here in South Africa, due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. (The state of disaster, has now been extended for another month to 15 September 2020.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For most people across the globe, it has been a trying time economically, socially, or just doing everyday normal life. The normal from 6 months ago is not the normal right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But in spite of all the things that we are so used to having freedoms in, like gathering as a church on a Sunday or visiting friends freely – and not limited to four friends gathering for coffee (or tea) at a coffee (or tea) shop downtown from where you live, I believe that we should not look down to what we have lost, but up to the possibilities that has been birthed due to this adversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last night, when we, as the Creative Team of Hillsong Stellenbosch<\/a>, gathered online for our weekly catch up, we spoke on the topic of \u201cTestimony and testifying\u201d. My friend, Dave, shared an amazing three verses from the Book of Revelation, chapter 12, on the testimony and testifying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some would think in the time we are living, that some of the things that are happening in the world right now are taken straight out of the book of Revelation, and some would be blaring \u201cIt\u2019s the End of the World (and I feel fine\u201d) by R.E.M, from their stereos (sorry mobile music players), but don\u2019t be troubled, for we, as humans, do not have the understanding and Insight of God in our own strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I am steering away from the topic…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thing Dave mentioned is that a key characteristic of testimony is that something out-of-the-ordinary, not by human action, but by the Hand of God has happened, for a testimony is all about Jesus, and His Goodness and unfavoured Grace towards us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the amazing thing was that through what I have seen and heard, by our church community gathering online, week after week, is people bringing witness or testifying of God at work in their lives in spite of circumstances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And it\u2019s extraordinary, that week after week, people are stepping into new jobs and careers, people’s business who have been adversely affected by the pandemic, making a complete turnaround, as well as those that in spite of a season that will not really be favourable for business start-ups, for all odds are stacked against new beginnings, things are going well for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have celebrated every Sunday in lockdown with these people, in spite of me not seeing the miracles firsthand to begin with. For their testimony does not just encourage me to remember that God is real, but it has convicted me, that even in this season, that God is getting the soil ready for something more in my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then I received a call from the CEO in my company, two weeks ago, on the last business day of July, informing me that the Core Systems Administrator has resigned, and that after careful consideration he wants me to step into that position, starting 1 September 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that is, by my human understanding, nothing short of only being God at Work. For I believe that He was there every night when I was rolling around in anxiety, during the first couple of months, thinking and trying to figure out how to meet my financial needs because of pay-cuts (to keep the company afloat), that He heard my anxieties and at the right time opened a door that cannot be shut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thing is, that for this to happen, I also had to acknowledge the fact that God\u2019s Spirit lives in me, and connects directly to my spirit-man, (Romans 8:8-11<\/a>)<\/em> and is at work in me to establish a complete good work in me, which will be completed with the return of Jesus (Philippians 1:6<\/a><\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So the good news is, I am still a work in progress towards complete set-apartness (sanctification) by Christ alone and that like any form of growth towards something, I am actively part of the process – it\u2019s not just going to happen overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the growth becoming visible in my life is effectively part of my story or testimony of what God is doing in my life, and I hope that through these thoughts I have penned down today, that you would be encouraged and edified (built up), to step in a new normal with the hope and future God always has in store for you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We are, I think, in month six of lockdown here in South Africa, due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. (The state of disaster, has now been extended for another month to 15 September 2020.) For most people across the globe, it has been a trying time economically, socially, or just doing everyday normal life. 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