Kate Walsh

Kate is the current owner and editor of Cup of Faith. She is a blogger who loves Jesus, loves to read, and currently lives in Johannesburg with her husband.

The post Interview with Author Sister K: “Blessed with Laughter: Journey to Seeing Her Eyes” appeared first on Cup of Faith.

I remember one of my favorite things to say to my three older children when they were growing up was: “Be nice.”

Sometimes it felt nearly impossible to get through a day without a major crisis unfolding between two or all three of them. The oldest would often tease the youngest, the second-born (a daughter) would take great delight in getting her two brothers into trouble, and the third-born relished the fact that he had it a bit easier than his two older siblings. Now, with a fourth one that came a full 15 years after our third, you know there is a lot of “you didn’t do that for us” going around.

Well, I confess, there’s truth to that statement, but we learn as we go, don’t we? While we were waiting for our first child to be born, I recall thinking that I would do everything better than everyone else (although I’m not sure why I thought this). I knew how I wanted to raise my child in a certain way that was better than everyone else’s. I was sure that my household would be quiet and peaceful, with the laundry always folded, dinner on the table, and everyone being nice.

Still Working On It

Fast forward 10 years, and I found myself up to my neck in raising children, living abroad, and working as a full-time church planter and community outreach coordinator in Africa. I honestly do not know how I managed to get through those days with my mind still somewhat intact.

The amount of work that goes into running a household in that region of Africa is stupefying. There is no fast food (thankfully), no quick place to shop (you go to the market, which is an all-day ordeal), and keeping the house clean is a whole other post for another day. All of this doesn’t take into account the work of the mission and the church. At the end of every day (much like you, wherever you are), both then and now, I wonder how I made it, continue to make it, and follow my counsel to “be nice.” Honestly, I wasn’t always as nice as I had hoped to be, but I always worked on it and am still working on it!

“Stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ.”
Ephesians 4:31,32 TLB

Speaking Our Minds and Being Nice

In the current supercharged world of “speaking our minds,” many have forgotten the need for those of us identifying as Christians to just be nice, be kind to each other. Everywhere we look these days, whether online, on TV, in print, or in person, there’s a strong negative current to “speak up for what is right.” We are ambassadors of the Kingdom and our righteous King, but we won’t convince anyone of their need for Christ if our righteousness is covered in ugliness. No matter the situation, Scripture is clear on the matter: we must be nice.

Society has always been ugly, humanity has always been divided, and the church can’t fulfill her mission when she looks, acts, and speaks like the world. Whatever happened to following Jesus’ advice to “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29 NLT

Have you ever noticed how exhausting it is to force change with anger or frustration? I wonder how many ulcers and troubles with high blood pressure could be averted by simply being nice.

Learning the Hard Way

I learned this truth the hard way years ago, serving here on the continent when I saw much hunger, injustice, and unnecessary death. I worked myself to the bone trying to bring about change; no matter how hard I worked, no matter how many hungry and vulnerable children I fed, there were still more than needed to be fed, and despite my valiant efforts, people still went hungry.

I became tired and bitter about my situation and the unfairness of it all, until one day, after sickness forced me to rest, I understood that anything pulling me from Jesus’ yoke that gives me rest is not His will for me. Over time, I began to realize that this fallen world is full of sin, and sin can’t be dealt with on our terms. Anger, frustration, overworking, and self-righteousness pull us away from His way of addressing humanity’s fallen nature by simply being nice. The response of humanity to the message of the cross is not my responsibility; I am only responsible for bringing the Good News. As long as there is sin in the world, there will be division, injustice, and pain.

This doesn’t mean we don’t speak the truth, for Scripture clearly instructs us to “Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” (Ephesians 4:15 NLT) What is our motive for speaking out, and what is our method? If our motive for reaching out to those we see lost in sin is love for them, then our methods will align with Scripture. Otherwise, we are only adding fuel to the fire of division instead of bringing Christ into the situation to redeem it.

How Has It Worked So Far?

How has frustration over the sinfulness of this world worked for us thus far? How has being angry helped any situation? Jesus walked this fallen earth and seldom was seen showing outright anger and frustration to the world; He had come to save them, give Himself for them, He died for them. His frustration was evident in the temple, among the “righteous,” who were too busy enriching themselves to reach out to those who truly needed help outside the temple (for us, this can be taken to mean the church).

My youngest daughter loves the movie, Frozen, and the theme song, “Let it go.” I rarely spiritualize animated movies, but today I will make an exception. Those things that frustrate you, those unfair, unrighteous, unholy, complicated things that anger you, let them go. Take Jesus’ yoke on you; He is the only One qualified to measure out judgment. Now is the time to be the church in the world, speak in love, and simply put:

Be nice.

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus,
Help me to recognize the moments and places where I’ve missed Your heart in the way I respond to the world around me. Teach me to be patient, to see people through Your eyes, and to respond with the same love and grace You show to me. May my life reflect Your motives and character, so that I may be a faithful example to those around me. Thank You for the privilege of being Your representative in this world.
Amen.

Lea Peters

Lea Peters has been a pastor’s wife and missionary since 1987. She has served alongside her husband, Jamie, planting churches and establishing faith-based community outreaches in Africa. She has four children and two grandchildren.

aculturalshift.com

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From Gentle Streams to Roaring Seas

I once overheard a friend of mine say something so moving to her daughter while on a walk with my own daughter and me. We were all standing among the lush vegetation of a secret green hollow in our neighbourhood which overhung an unseen stream, and she said, “Listen to the water. God speaks to us through the water.”

This resonated with me deeply. When I reflect on my own moments of intimacy with God, they have often occurred in spaces of proximity to the sound of water in some form or another, whether it be listening to the rain while journaling, walking alongside streams on residential greenbelts or sitting on the beach watching and hearing the crashing waves; there is something about the purity of water that inspires prayer and thoughts of God for me, which is in line with scripture as He even describes Himself as ‘the spring of living water.’ (Jeremiah 2:13 NIV).

The other day during my quiet time, I let the thought of water meander long and far, drawing what felt like a truly appropriate portrait of God’s character and how He relates to us. It struck me that as water takes on so many different forms, so does God; just as water is a still and gentle stream as well as a wild and vast ocean, so God is both a whisper of peace and our refuge, as well as a thunderous all-consuming power. To have complete relationship with our Father, we can’t experience Him in one form only. We need to allow ourselves to flow with the current of His will lest we lose out on the full renewal and power that relationship with Him offers.

Gentle Streams: Meeting God in Quiet

‘He leads me beside quiet waters…’ (Psalm 23: 2 NIV).

Jesus said to the woman at the well that whoever drinks the water he gives will never thirst again (John 4: 13-14). I don’t know if you have ever drunk directly from a mountain stream, but my experience of it was that I had never tasted something so wholly invigorating, it certainly felt like it was a thirst-quench with longevity. The first year of my walk in faith was one of the most deeply enriching and meaningful years of my life. I spent so much time on my own with God, sitting, walking and talking with Him, that I truly felt that if I was the only human alive on earth, I would be perfectly content, because I had Him.

Nurturing my personal relationship with God is therefore a big priority in my life, for unless I can experience God alone, I cannot know His deep love for me the individual, as His child and as a small piece of His creation. It is knowledge and constantly reminding myself of this love that fills me, fuels me, and makes me instrumental to the kingdom, because being filled with His love means I can overflow with love, giving to others that love that I have received from the source of all love.

Experiencing the peace of personal intimacy with God means that I am often tempted to avoid community; I have a strong desire to live my spiritual life in private with God alongside the quiet waters. But I know this is not His will for my life. Water naturally flows towards the sea, and so long as that water is constantly moving, it will continue to flow with life and vibrancy. If it collects and becomes stagnant, it loses its vitality and can become a breeding ground for bacteria and other elements that make it unsafe to consume. This is like our relationship with God and therefore our faith when we refuse to flow with the current of His will; we too will become stagnant, and like all stagnant water, we will find that the water is no longer life- giving and may become a breeding ground for unwanted sin.

As we become strengthened by drinking from the quiet stream of our personal relationship with God, we need to surrender to His will as the natural current of water flows towards the sea.

Roaring Seas: Meeting God in Power

The sea is where we encounter God in power, which can be a symbol for corporate worship and community. We cannot belong to His kingdom without being in His kingdom with our fellow believers.

When we pray for each other and lay hands on one another, we see God move. We see God’s justice and mercy demonstrated through outreach ministries, uplifting communities and being a sanctuary for those who live on the fringes of society. We see love displayed through relationship and close counsel, doing life with one another. Alongside this, though we are saints, we are saints being sanctified which means sometimes repressed sin is being brought to the surface and clashing with sin in other believers. But in times of adversity in church, we also see God’s redeeming hand bringing about conciliation and healing.

In these ways, God’s reflection through fellowship is very much like the sea; just as the sea can be turbulent and windswept, it can be perfectly orchestrated and powerful in the majestic waves rising and falling in perfect formation and rhythm.

There is no such thing as a perfect church, and my church is no different. But one vital aspect of my church keeps me firmly rooted in its community, and that is the presence of the Holy Spirit. I often used to think that you need to prime yourself before going to church if you want to experience the presence of God, but there have been times when I’ve arrived at church with a very distracted mindset, either it’s been a rushed morning or I’ve simply been distant from God throughout the week, but in spite of this, I have felt showered by the Holy Spirit merely by being present in the gathering of strong believers. Someone speaks a prayer over the congregation or a powerful moment of worship surges through the room, and I feel the rippling of His divine presence across the entire surface of my body and soul. That’s power in His presence, and it’s made possible through the corporate fellowship and gathering of the Saints.

Where the River meets the Sea

Returning to my quiet time when I reflected on this comparison of God and water, I was sitting just by a small estuary, perfectly positioned to hear both the distant roar of the sea as well as the gentle trickle of the estuary. These two contrasting sounds were existing in harmony with one another, and every so often, the gentle methodical trickle was overlaid by the gentle swoosh of a larger wave reaching its final stretch. Just as the estuary feeds into the sea, so the sea washes over the estuary and fills its banks, giving it more movement and energy.

How similar it is to how we live in community; just as we become part of the fellowship and so feed the kingdom, we are also fed by the kingdom when we need renewed energy. It is a symbiotic relationship, in which at times we will be flowing more powerfully into the kingdom, and other times, the kingdom will be overflowing to us, and it is all living in the fullness of God and His purpose for our lives.

Let us Pray:

Father God, thank you for how you reveal to yourself to us in all forms. Please help us to experience the fullness of your character and love and live a balanced life in personal relationship with you and community. For those of us who want to live hidden away in relationship with you alone, gives us obedience and boldness to serve in community. For those of us who are too busy actively engaging in church and activities that we forget to connect with you alone, please draw us away to a quiet place with you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Angela Chiaberta

I am a volunteer blogger with a passion for God and writing. My hope is to help others choose faith – or to walk deeper in their faith – through my own introspections and observations.

The post Meeting God in Quiet and in Power appeared first on Cup of Faith.

There’s a kind of inner split that few Christians talk about openly, but many of us feel at some point in our walk with God. I’ve come to call it the great schism. It’s that deep, often painful disconnect between what we know is true about God – because the Bible tells us so – and what our current reality is screaming back at us.

You know the tension. You’ve probably felt it too.

We say with conviction that God is good. We proclaim that He is our provider. Our healer. Faithful. Present. Yet there are seasons in life when those truths feel painfully hollow. Not because they aren’t true, but because they don’t seem to be true for us – right now.

I lived in that space for quite a while.

When the Mind Knows but the Heart Breaks

A few years ago, I was walking through the quiet, aching valley of infertility. Month after month of hope followed by heartbreak. I prayed. I fasted. I believed. I declared. I did all the “right” things. But the silence from heaven grew louder, more deafening, more disorienting. My theology said God is good. My heart whispered, “But is He good to me?”

That’s the kind of question that feels scandalous to admit out loud in Christian circles. But it’s the one that kept me up at night. I knew the verses. I could quote James 1:17 in my sleep: “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” I believed in the goodness of God like I believed in gravity. But in the middle of my pain, those truths started to feel distant, even cruel. What kind of good God withholds something so good?

That’s when I realised I was in a spiritual tug-of-war between what I believed and what I experienced.

The Tension is Biblical

If you’re there right now, I want you to know that you’re not alone and you’re not faithless. In fact, you’re standing in a long tradition of believers who have wrestled with the same kind of dissonance.

Think of Job. A man who lived blamelessly, who honoured God in every way, yet lost everything – his children, his wealth, even his health. His friends were convinced his suffering was because of hidden sin. But Job knew differently. He just didn’t understand why a good God would allow so much pain. At one point, Job said, “Though he slay me, I will hope in him” (Job 13:15 ESV). That’s faith in the face of profound confusion.

Or take David. In the Psalms, he pours out his frustration, saying things like “Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 ESV). These aren’t neat, Sunday-school prayers. They’re raw cries from a man wrestling with the seeming gap between God’s character and God’s actions.

Even Jesus, in His humanity, cried out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46 ESV). If the Son of God could feel abandoned, could feel the tension between truth and experience, then surely our doubts don’t disqualify us.

Faith Is Not Denial

Somewhere along the way, many of us were taught that faith means always having the right answers or always feeling hopeful. But biblical faith isn’t about denial; it’s about holding onto God even when everything in us wants to let go.

It’s choosing to say, “God, I don’t understand what You’re doing. I don’t like how this feels. But I still believe You are who You say You are.”

That’s not weak faith. That’s deep faith.

It’s faith that has been tested in the fire of disappointment and has chosen, again and again, to trust, even with a limp, even with tears, even with clenched fists.

So How Do We Reconcile the Gap?

This is the question I wrestled with the most. How do we reconcile what we know about God with what we experience when the two seem worlds apart?

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but here’s what I’ve learned – and what I’m still learning:

1. Acknowledge the Gap Honestly

Pretending everything’s fine doesn’t help. God isn’t threatened by our honesty. In fact, He invites it. The Psalms are full of brutal transparency, and yet God called David “a man after My own heart” (Acts 13:22). Lament is a biblical language. It makes space for grief and faith to coexist.

2. Anchor Yourself in the Bigger Story

When we focus only on our present pain, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. But Scripture reminds us that we’re part of an eternal story – a story where suffering isn’t meaningless and where God *will* make all things new.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Notice it doesn’t say all things are good. Infertility is not good. Suffering is not good. But somehow, mysteriously, God works through it all to bring about a greater good we may not fully see on this side of eternity.

3. Let Your Questions Lead You Closer

For a while, I feared that questioning God would create distance. But I found that my most honest questions became a bridge to deeper intimacy with Him. When I stopped pretending and started praying prayers like, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24), I found a God who didn’t rebuke me but instead met me with tenderness.

He doesn’t always give us explanations. But He always gives us Himself.

4. Remember That Jesus Entered Our Pain

One of the most comforting truths for me has been this: Jesus knows. He’s not a distant deity watching us suffer from afar. He entered into our broken world. He wept. He grieved. He felt abandoned. He suffered.

Hebrews 4:15 says we have a High Priest who can “sympathize with our weaknesses.” Jesus is not only our Saviour – He is our companion in suffering.

5. Choose to Worship Anyway

This one was the hardest for me. Worship felt hypocritical when I was full of doubt. I remember walking out of a service once during worship because I simply couldn’t do it. But slowly, I learned that worship isn’t just a response to good news – it’s a declaration of trust. It’s saying, “God, even in the dark, I choose to believe You’re still worthy.”

There’s a kind of worship that only comes from the valley. A song that only rises from broken places. And I believe that kind of worship is precious to God.

Walking With a Limp

I didn’t get the answer I prayed for in the way I expected. My story didn’t unfold the way I hoped. But I can say now, years later, that something beautiful happened in the brokenness.

My faith grew deeper. Not neater but deeper.

I still believe God is good. But now, that belief isn’t rooted in what He gives or doesn’t give. It’s rooted in *who He is*. And that’s a shift that suffering often brings.

The great schism between what we know and what we experience may never close entirely this side of heaven. It hasn’t for me. But God is not asking us to resolve the tension. He’s inviting us to trust Him within it.

Even when the prayers go unanswered. Even when the healing doesn’t come. Even when the silence lingers.
God is still good. And somehow, in ways we can’t always see, He is working all things together – not just to fix our story, but to redeem it.

Friend, you don’t have to pretend. You don’t have to tie a bow on your pain or resolve all your doubts to stay in God’s presence.

He welcomes you as you are. Confused. Tired. Hopeful. Hurting. Faithful. Doubting.

And He walks with you in the in-between.

The great schism doesn’t mean your faith is broken. It means your faith is being forged.

If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear your story. Have you ever walked through a season where God’s goodness felt out of reach? How did you navigate the tension between what you know and what you experienced?

Let’s create a space where honesty and faith can coexist.

Because they can.

Marthe Badibanga

A volunteer blogger whose passion is to see the people of God become all that the LORD intended them to be in their personal relationships with Him that overflow into their daily lives.

The post The Great Schism: When What We Believe About God Doesn’t Match What We Experience appeared first on Cup of Faith.

A poem about the grace of communion:

Come, sit at the table, my friend

Kate Walsh

Kate is the current owner and editor of Cup of Faith. She is a blogger who loves Jesus, loves to read, and currently lives in Johannesburg with her husband.

The post The Table: A Poem appeared first on Cup of Faith.

Some scriptures require a bigger ‘meditation’ response than others. The beatitudes are so countercultural that I have to let them sit in my mind, steeping, in order to receive and believe them. ‘Blessed are the merciful.’ In our urban, digital, cancel-culture, social keyboard warrior society, mercy is a concept that is not often acknowledged. In fact, although I felt drawn to write about mercy for our Beatitutdes theme this month, I wasn’t entirely sure what it meant to me.

His mercy in scripture

As I was pondering mercy, two specific passages I read during my devotional times displayed spoke to me about God’s merciful nature:

“I will betroth you to Me forever;

Yes, I will betroth you to Me

In righteousness and justice,

In lovingkindness and mercy;

I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness,

And you shall know the Lord.

 

“It shall come to pass in that day

That I will answer,” says the Lord;

“I will answer the heavens,

And they shall answer the earth.

The earth shall answer

With grain,

With new wine,

And with oil;

They shall answer Jezreel.

Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth,

And I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy;

Then I will say to those who were not My people,

‘You are My people!’

And they shall say, ‘You are my God!’ ” Hosea 2:19-23

This is a prophecy about the Gentiles who would be grafted into the family of God through Jesus’ sacrifice. We were once outside of the jurisdiction of mercy but God chose to extend it to us. The context of Hosea is a story of profound mercy. Hosea is called to prophetically wed a prostitute who is addicted to her life of sexual promiscuity. He loses her over and over again but diligently seeks her out each time to bring her back home. She eventually winds up in a slave market. She is standing naked on the podium and Hosea pays her slave price to cover her body with his coat and lead her back home once more.

Hosea’s wife surely deserved to be left to the results of her wanton wanderings. Instead she is given a protective covering. She is shown mercy. How many times have I wandered away from God’s? Too many times and in states too shameful to describe in such a public forum!

The next story hinted towards God’s mercy was the woman with the issue of blood:

Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.

And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”

When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.

And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” Luke 8:43-48

I think absolutely any story of Jesus’ healing miracles would fit into a discussion of God’s mercy. Jesus has such mercy on people in their suffering. Sometimes our earthly view of suffering can be harsh and judgemental. Surely this was the woman’s lot in life? She was born with an issue of blood and that was her cross to bear. Her physical suffering was a trial that would teach her to have a humble character. At least that’s how I would reason it in my human mind. But she saw something about Jesus. She saw the compassion and mercy he extended to people. She had faith that he was a man who would be willing to take away what others had told her to accept. I want to be like her.

Situational relief

She believed that he would do more than express pity and sympathy. In discussing the ‘blessed are the merciful’, Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones explains:

“It does not mean pity; it means a great desire and indeed an endeavour to do something to relieve a situation.”*

He differentiates grace from mercy:

“Grace is especially associated with men in their sins; mercy is especially associated with men in their misery… grace looks down upon sin as a whole, mercy looks especially upon the miserable consequences of sin.”*

I get the feeling that God’s mercy means I won’t always ‘get what I deserve’. While grace leads me to favour and eternal blessing, freedom from the slavery of sin, mercy is a covering over my mistakes and the consequences of living in a fallen world. 

Extending mercy to others

When was the last time I extended mercy to someone? When was the last time I protected someone from pain, or from hurt, from the harsh conditions of life in this world? I struggle to come up with anything! I feel like the Levite priest who crossed to the other side of the road, fearing contamination. I remember hearing an observation about people’s attitude towards the merciful actions of Mother Theresea: everyone respects her. But no one wants to be her.

Prayer

Lord, You desire that as recipients of your mercy we are in turn merciful to others. Help us not to hide from others’ needs but to seek to urgently relieve them of pain and suffering. Remove earthly judgemental attitudes, remove despair, remove actionless pity, and instead give us the heart Jesus had when he so mercifully healed so many people. Amen.

*References

Lloyd-Jones, D. M. (1971). Studies in the Sermon on the Mount. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Kate Walsh

Kate is the current owner and editor of Cup of Faith. She is a blogger who loves Jesus, loves to read, and currently lives in Johannesburg with her husband.

The post Blessed are the Merciful for they shall Obtain Mercy appeared first on Cup of Faith.

Being the peacemaker isn’t always peaceful. As a former lay-counsellor who has always felt a calling to commiserate and be a safe, judgement-free space for people, it quite often happens that family and friends come to me to talk about their problems. The prospect of being even just a small help means that I don’t mind this in the least. That is, until the problem just happens to be a mutual friend or family member in conflict with the person confiding in me — especially when said mutual friend or family member has also come to confide in me.

Such an instance has happened to me recently, where the parties involved were all very close to one another, but unresolved past feelings had bubbled to the surface over a disagreement, and events led all of them to come to me to vent their frustration. I found myself confronted with two choices: either I could avoid getting involved, or I could take charge and suggest that everyone come together to talk it out. Remembering scripture, I chose the latter for in James it is said that “Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”  James 3:18 NIV

However, in orchestrating the open communication to heal the relationships, something was said which was misunderstood by one of the people involved, who then began to mistakenly suspect that I had betrayed their trust and relayed information that was not mine to share. Suddenly, I was the target of anger and hurt, and I truly regretted getting involved.

While thankfully it was resolved quite quickly, it was not the first time that I had been caught in this kind of situation, and it’s clearly a test I will need to keep writing until I get it right. However, what I have learnt, is that there is a time to be a peacemaker, and there is a time to hold our peace: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 NIV

But how do we know which one is appropriate for which instance? As always, only the truth of scripture can answer that for us and most of the time, this is directly related to our intentions; are we serving God’s agenda, or our own?

When action leads to peace

While I can’t yet give an answer as to whether my involvement in the above incident was God’s agenda or my own, I can say that being the target of anger however briefly made me feel mildly persecuted as it was not based on truth, and this led me to reflect on Jesus.

For Jesus was the ultimate peacemaker. He came to make peace between humankind and God, but this was not done peacefully. He spoke out against the Pharisees calling them hypocrites, he spoke up for tax collectors and adulterers, over-turned tables in the temple and even said, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10: 34-35 NIV), all ultimately leading to his torture and death on the cross.

Oftentimes, we will be persecuted for being peacemakers especially if the conflict is within a worldly context, but we must trust in God for being our ultimate vindicator. For Jesus did not vindicate himself when he stood before Herod or Pontius Pilate, and he did not try to vindicate himself by proving his deity to his accusers. But through his death he restored humankind to God and he was ultimately vindicated when he rose from the dead, the empty tomb a reassurance of the complete redemption and restored peace of our relationship with God, but more importantly, the evidence that he was who he claimed to be. But despite our joy and celebration of this event, it came at a great cost in the form of persecution.

When inaction leads to peace

Earlier I mentioned when Jesus stood silent didn’t try to defend himself against His accusers, this was an example of complete surrender to the father’s will. He did not need to defend himself. For as God, He knew His righteousness, in the father’s will He knew peace, and in the knowledge of His purpose to restore humankind to God, He went willingly.

Similarly, God will call us to speak when it will cause our own persecution, but there are times when He will also call us to be silent. When He calls us to be silent, it is normally a call for inner reflection of our agenda to speak out. Sometimes we believe we are speaking the truth to fight for what is right, but our real agenda, is something more self-serving. We are offended, or we are simply angered by someone else’s action because it presses a self-righteous button, and we want to display this by bringing someone else to task, which is especially common in church relationships.

While it can be just as difficult to call someone out in their sin, if our agenda is self-righteous, the best way to restore peace who be to understand why we have a self-serving agenda, so that we can repent and be at peace on that issue. For me personally, I find it particularly difficult to remain silent when I’m feeling offended. It can be very difficult when the offense is fresh and we feel hurt, but if we obey God to “hold our peace”, we often will find a much greater peace in the silence as we rely on God alone to heal us.

I have a good friend who asks herself three simple questions every time her instinct is to speak out to someone, whether it is because she is offended or because she believes they are in the wrong: Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary?

It can be tricky trying to navigate the waters of conflict, whether it be between other people or simply within ourselves, but the best way to understand our own agenda, is to ask whether speaking out glorifies God, or serves our own pride? When we are silent, is it because we are afraid of the conflict that we may find ourselves in? Will our action or inaction bring peace to others, and will it bring peace and growth to ourselves? Ultimately, it comes down to faith versus self-preservation. It is only through prayer and deep reflection that it is revealed which of the two is driving our decision.

Father God, we lift to you all those who are currently experiencing conflict in one way or another. Please Lord guide them through your Holy Spirit to either speak your truth courageously to bring peace to others, or to stay silent and to turn to you for their comfort and peace. In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Angela Chiaberta

I am a volunteer blogger with a passion for God and writing. My hope is to help others choose faith – or to walk deeper in their faith – through my own introspections and observations.

The post Blessed are the Peacemakers appeared first on Cup of Faith.

Red shoes and swords

My oldest son celebrated his birthday not long ago. I’ve spent a few days feeling nostalgic as I remembered him growing up. He was a busy boy! It seems he was born to get things done and take the lead. He crawled early, walked early, ran fast, and was passionate about doing things “by myself.”

I remember once when he was just a toddler, he concentrated heavily on tying his shoes. After nearly an hour of trying, he cried when he couldn’t finish it, and declared that he would no longer wear those shoes. Not an hour passed after this declaration that he was back at it, trying to tie those red tennis shoes. It wasn’t long before he ran off with those shoes tied as best as his little hands could manage, telling his daddy, “I did it by myself!”

Short-lived victories

His victory was short-lived, however, as the laces came untied rather quickly. He tripped and skinned his knee. Tears quickly ensued, followed by swiftly collecting my independent one in my arms and kissing the tears away. When the tears dried, we tried to tie those shoes together, and the day came when they no longer came loose. A tough lesson for my little one! Yet, he learned to let Mama teach him how to tie shoes that day. Time went by, and he grew, but he learned to come and get help when he couldn’t figure something out.

Past victories and tying shoes

In the same way my son had to learn from his shoe-tying exercise, I’m learning to rely on past lessons and victories to help me move forward and tie my shoes.

So the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it. For there is no other except that one here.” And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.” – 1 Samuel 21:9 NKJV

If you remember the account of David and Goliath, David killed Goliath (the champion of the Philistines, Israel’s dreaded enemy) with Goliath’s own sword. What a victory that was! However, it seems after that victory, Goliath’s sword – the symbol of that victory – got put away, forgotten until the day David needed it.

Swords of the past work in the present

Sometimes, we go through things in life when the victories of the past return to us at the right moment to bless us, just like the sword of Goliath came back to David. Realizations and answers come, and victory is assured because we remember God brought victory before and will bring it again.

I encourage you to reach back for those swords, those victories. Remember what God has done in the past. This will encourage your faith to believe again. Declare like David of the sword you used in times past, “There’s none like it; give it to me.”

Lea Peters

Lea Peters has been a pastor’s wife and missionary since 1987. She has served alongside her husband, Jamie, planting churches and establishing faith-based community outreaches in Africa. She has four children and two grandchildren.

aculturalshift.com

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Come Home | Creative Retreat

 

We had wonderful feedback from our first retreat that took place in April 2024! This is a deeply spiritual, meditative experience that we believe will enhance your ability to create from a place of connection with the Father.

 

The retreat will be facilitated by two missionaries who have a heart and passion for the arts, Chloe Snyder and Kirstin Nobbs.

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Your ticket covers our event costs including a meal on Saturday.

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Event details:

Paulshof, Johannesburg

Friday 11 October 18:45 – 20:15

Saturday 12 October 09:00 – 13:00

Need to request sponsorship? Email kate@cupoffaith.co.za

NB: Only 6 spaces remaining.

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Kate Walsh

Kate is the current owner and editor of Cup of Faith. She is a blogger who loves Jesus, loves to read, and currently lives in Johannesburg with her husband.

The post Creative Retreat appeared first on Cup of Faith.

One of my favourite places to be is the bi-annual Tierlandtynkies market festival in Pretoria. Every inch of space is filled with delightful treasures for my magpie eyes, handmade or curated by fun, smart and engaging entrepreneurs. Most of them are female, including the events’ brain-moms: Ronel and Lorette (who happen to also be two of the kindest people you will ever meet). The market is held on church property but it’s far from the stereotypical koeksister and secondhand book market we’ve come to expect from church fetes. I know because I assist my husband with his stall there for the past few years and have come to expect to be pleasantly surprised with the jewellery, fashion, accessories, decor and more from small businesses.

We are one week away from the next market and so I simply must write a piece I’ve been keeping from you for a while! At the last market, I spoke to some of the vendors about what it takes to run their businesses. Our conversations reminded me of the creative industry demonstrated by the Proverbs 31 woman. Reading over my notes, I am amazed at the depth of wisdom experience has taught them. I’ve distilled their advice into ten important ingredients for the modern day female entrepreneur:

1. Excellence

Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates. (Proverbs 31:31 NKJV)

There can be no entrepreneurship without excellence. Cutting corners is a big no-no and will catch up with you at some point. Customers are not easily fooled by shoddy work so a thriving small business requires that one always puts the best foot forward.

2. Leadership

She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens. (Proverbs 31:15)

A good leader sacrifices for staff: one entrepreneur admitted that she would take money from her personal accounts to pay her staff if the business had bad months. But becoming a good leader also requires learning how to follow. Ronel recommended finding a mentor and meeting once a month to learn from.

3. Unique Solutions

She considers a field and buys it (Proverbs 31:16a)

One of the most competitive genres for small businesses is jewellry. Amorique from Mark of A explained to me how her desire to create beautiful items was partly born from the frustration of not being able to find rings that fit her fingers. She encourages anyone with new ideas to never ever try to fit in as building your business on the basis of comparison will only yield flat and boring results. If you’re someone interested in creative ideas, I highly recommend the ‘Made to Create’ 6 week Bible Study.

Kies is where I met the awesome Purpose & Proverbs team. What kind and inspirational ladies!

4. Godly Direction

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. (Proverbs 31:30)

Pray, pray and pray for inspiration and direction from God. One lady shared with me how, in the difficulty of navigating her sales through the COVID pandemic, she and her business partner waited on God for a word in prayer. Once they felt that they had received direction, they acted on it in faith and continued to repeat it to themselves throughout challenges. Another lady shared that her desire to pivot her business started deep within her heart. Once she followed that inspiration, things quickly fell into place from her which she interprets as evidence of God’s grace and direction.

One of my first Tierlandtynkies markets as a barista back in 2014

5. Boldness

She is not afraid of snow for her household (Proverbs 31:21a)

Fear of failure is one of the largest barriers to success for anything, entrepreneurship included. Owning and running a small business takes a stomach for risk.

6. Attention to Detail

She looks well to the ways of her household (Proverbs 31:27a)

Toni, owner of Toni’s Pizza, emphasised that attention to detail is key. Know where every single cent is going. Ronel affirmed that being hands-on is vital for the health of your business.

7. Communication

She opens her mouth with wisdom (Proverbs 31:26a)

Clarity in branding helps customers to understand what you are offering them. Nini of Eat-a-bit shared that rebranding resulted in an increase in sales! Same business, same product, same owner, but improved communication! She went on to explain that she loves to chat with her customers and get a feel for what they do and don’t like. She uses this valuable information to improve her products and even as a place to find free ideas for new products.

8. Flexibility

Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come. (Proverbs 31:25)

One just cannot prepare for every eventuality. Wisdom and planning are great but when things go wrong, good entrepreneurs think on their feet to solve the problem. There’s nothing wrong with having a little cry of course! But never allow despair to prevent you from tackling unforeseen challenges.

9. Family

Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her (Proverbs 31:28)

A couple of the ladies I spoke to mentioned how important family support is. It reminded me of how supportive my husband has been of my vision for this blog, Cup of Faith. One lady had her baby with her at her stand. She explained that she wants her daughter to be included into her life and so, with the support of parents and her husband, she bravely chooses to combine childcare with running her stand. Now that’s one advantage of being your own boss: autonomous parenting!

Helping Kendrick running his stall at Kies in April 2024

10. Hard Work

She rises while it is yet night (Proverbs 31:15a)
She … does not eat the bread of idleness. (Proverbs 31:27b)

There is no substitute for hard work. A common theme with all the women I spoke to was grit: giving it all and willingly giving up time to invest into nurturing the business into what you envision it to be. These women are not afraid to wake up early and go to bed late – something they share with the Proverbs 31 woman!

If you are around Pretoria next week I encourage you to come by and meet some of the incredible vendors!

You can find details about the market on Facebook.

Kate Walsh

Kate is the current owner and editor of Cup of Faith. She is a blogger who loves Jesus, loves to read, and currently lives in Johannesburg with her husband.

The post What Makes a Female Entrepreneur? 10 Essential Attributes appeared first on Cup of Faith.