Holding our Breath

The other day I was having coffee with a good friend and mentor, and she told me that lately she feels like she is constantly absorbing more: people’s struggles, their asks, and the steady stream of things to do. She’s realised that what she seeks is to begin to release more —her creative expression, her spiritual gifts, her joy and Godly passion—all things of which I know she has an abundance. Yet I also know what it’s like to be so burdened with a continuous inflow of responsibilities that you have no time to tap into your true, inner calling.

This is especially true of Christian women. We all want to be the Proverbs 31 woman, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come…she watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness” (Proverbs 31: 25,27). However, too often we make the mistake of living out this verse by being constantly busy. Yet there is a difference between being busy, and being productive, especially when it comes to God’s kingdom.

Out of Breath

As we spoke, I immediately recalled something I learnt from a woman who coached me in my running four years ago. When I used to run uphill stretches, I would generally find myself gasping for air and panting, thinking I just needed more oxygen. This is a common body response because when carbon dioxide levels rise, it triggers the urge to breathe faster so we can clear it out and bring in more oxygen. However, what I learnt was that I needed to go against the instinct to breathe faster and instead force the carbon dioxide out through long and steady exhales. As soon as you do this, you will find that your heartbeat will slow down and your breathing will regulate, allowing you to inhale more oxygen in a steady rhythm.

Sometimes in life, I find myself out of breath. When this happens, I know the answer is more of God, but because I’m trudging through a swamp of busyness, I end up trying to squeeze Him in — I read a bite size devotion sitting in my inbox, I try to attend another church meeting, or I listen to worship music while cooking or driving— but it’s hardly replenishing me in the fullness of His presence.

Breathing out: making room for the new

“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.” Luke 5:37 – 38 NIV

While Jesus was referring to His new covenant replacing the strict religious ways of the Pharisees, we can also interpret this passage for our current, daily lives. We need to renew our spirits by pushing out the old. Like using new wine skins to pour in new wine, the key is pushing the old air out, so that the fullness of God’s “oxygen” can be absorbed. Yet, what is the carbon dioxide in our lives — the things we need to release to make space for new breath?

We discussed this in a women’s group I attend, and I’d like to list just a few examples of what was shared:

• Old thoughts: One of the ladies expressed how she has always believed she’s not creative, but as my friend pointed out, we are all made in His image as creative beings, which can include the little things in life — not just artwork in galleries or written books. Her “carbon dioxide” is the incorrect belief that she is not creative, but with God’s new “oxygen”, she is discovering how she is already creative and can be even more so.
• Wasted time: For many of us in the room, we confessed to being perpetual scrollers on social media. At the end of the day, exhausted and seeking mild entertainment safe in our shells, we lie down and disappear into the social media time warp, where “just five” minutes morphs into two hours, which often means going to bed too late. As one wise woman among us shared, the real discipline isn’t in waking up early to meet with God — it’s in going to bed on time.
• Prideful Habits: I realised that one reason why my to-do pile keeps growing and blocking the things I should do, is not asking for help, even from my own husband. I’ll instead battle forward alone trying to juggle everything and then end up feeling resentful. Because let’s be honest — I’m not the long-suffering servant quietly carrying the world on her shoulders; I’m more like a trumpet of showy huffs and puffs. This is because my reason for “doing everything”, has more to do with pride than it does joyful selflessness.
• Hurt: One of the younger ladies who attended spoke of purging negative thoughts. As Christians we are rightly taught to take captive negative thoughts, and “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say.” All very true. But sometimes we take this to extremes when we are not even honest with ourselves let alone God, and so past hurts and bitterness fester within us. Sometimes it’s necessary to ‘purge’ of negative feelings by expressing it through journaling or through counsel with a trusted friend.

Breathing in: the replenishing infilling

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35 NIV

Jesus models what we need to be doing to experience true relationship with him and the Father. In merely reading this scripture, the longing of my soul is roused by its promise of peace and replenishment. Time with our father needs to be an extended pause. We need a deep inhale of His truth, filling us with the peace of His presence, quietening the hustle of our minds so that we can feel and hear the heart He has for us. Ignited by His spirit, we are more connected to His purpose and we can take on tasks guided by His wisdom and calling on our lives.

“I have filled him with the Spirit of God… to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.” Exodus 31:3–5 NIV

When we breathe in the oxygen of God, not only are we more attuned to His deep love and purpose for us, but He awakens cells within our spiritual body, stirring them into motion, to collide and unite and become vessels for creative thoughts. As we established earlier, we are creative in everything, not only in music, artwork and books. In daily chores we are creative as we create order in our personal admin and household. We are creative in our conversations, as we create new ideas together. We are creative in our thoughts, as we envision a better way for things to be. In all these things the oxygen He provides is our inspiration for the daily creations as well as the larger creative projects, because His essence is creator and we were made in His image: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1 NIV).

The Calm Exhale

Once we have cleared our lungs of the excess ‘carbon dioxide’ and drawn a deeper breath of God’s ‘oxygen’, we can exhale with greater calm and ease the things He is wanting us to release into the world. We release creativity to build. We release encouragement to our neighbours. We release joy and testimony to the quiet onlookers on the side. We release ourselves in the way that God is wanting us to be released. We release His light.

Where do we start?

I ask this question without holding an answer. We all walk very different lives and therefore we all have different ways of finding our breathing rhythm. For me, my starting point was to envision what breathing rhythm looks like in my life, and from there, I started listing the things — the excess ‘carbon dioxide’ —that needs to be exhaled from my life in order for me to inhale more of God’s ‘oxygen’.

What is your starting point?

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 The Oxygen of God appeared first on Cup of Faith.

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.

It took my husband and I months and maybe years to get this right. Finances are a mammoth adult responsibility. The Bible addresses the stewardship of wealth directly and indirectly across the Old and New Testaments. It’s a topic that I’ve prayed over continually. But there was one key scripture that really unlocked the rest of the game for us.

Proverbs 27:23-27:

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,

    give careful attention to your herds;

24 for riches do not endure forever,

    and a crown is not secure for all generations.

25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears

    and the grass from the hills is gathered in,

26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,

    and the goats with the price of a field.

27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family

    and to nourish your female servants.

It took hearing this advice from multiple people in both secular and Christian settings for it to eventually sink in.

For anything to change we have to know what we’re dealing with.

We have to know our numbers.

Specifically, we have to pay attention to what is currently happening.

Not daydreaming about how much money it would be nice to have to buy the ultimate family home. Not regretting the past use of credit resulting in debt payments. Not messing around on ChatGPT to figure out a killer investment plan. What’s happening right now?

There’s a principle to this proverb. The right steps towards success start with paying attention. It’s as simple as that. God needs us to be honest with the current situation and listen to the story our money is telling us right now.

For us, knowing “the condition of your flocks” meant careful financial tracking of our expenditure. This is one habit that has drastically changed the game. We’ve tweaked it over time and we don’t get it perfect every month but most months it looks like this:

Stage 1: Forecasting

1. Identifying upcoming expenses
2. Planning for unknown expenses
3. Identifying income for the month (as a freelance earner, I have my income ready a month ahead of time so that I have the month to collect my invoices and send it over to the household bank account by the 1st)

Stage 2: Budgeting

1. Putting these all into a spreadsheet before the first pay day. Together. Some items in the budget are completely fixed: debit orders. The rest are moderately fixed: miscellaneous, groceries, travel. We also have a small no judgement fun spend we allocate to each other as pocket money. It turns out it’s smarter to have as few categories as possible.
2. We withdraw cash for groceries. This has honestly revolutionised my spending. This wouldn’t be a groundbreaking strategy for everyone. Some people find physical cash a hassle. Some people are really good at digital tracking. But using the ‘envelope system’ for just this one spending category has helped us tremendously. I split the withdrawals into 3: Day 1 – 10 gets about 45% of the grocery budget to include pantry items for the month. Day 11 – 20 gets 30% and Day 21 – 30 gets 25% as there are usually leftovers in the fridge and freezer.

Stage 3: Live Tracking

1. I track three times a month and let my husband know what we have remaining in the ‘unfixed’ spending categories (travel, groceries, miscellaneous). This has helped us to stay on the same page, encourage each other, and keep our spending habits conscious rather than be at the mercy of our whims.
2. We have an agreed cut off amount for big purchases. If the purchase is over a certain number, and it’s not expected, we discuss it with each other prior to purchasing.

There are other things we do too of course, in the vein of long term financial planning and risk management. But the wisdom of God is that a long-term vision goes hand in hand with today’s work. 

Has God ever given you a big breakthrough in the way you handle your personal finances? Share it in the comments below!

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 One scripture completely changed our personal finances appeared first on Cup of Faith.

I’ve somehow gotten grouped into the “older” generation. It wasn’t that long ago that I was on the other side of the generational curve, telling everyone else what was new and the newest trend. I don’t find this new reality that I’m facing, my mortality, comfortable. Have I become out of style myself? Have I passed my “best before” date?

In the grocery store, “best before” dates are stamped on the products lining the aisles. Some have longer “best before” dates than others; some products have dates 2 to 3 years from when they are purchased. That’s the kind of product I aspire to be—best before many years into the future.

Still usable

In reality, many items we reject in stores because their “best before” dates are close or even past are still usable. I saw a news report about a store in Europe that uses these rejected items to help low-income families. The savings passed on to those in society who are more vulnerable have been remarkable.

Truth is never out of date; it never expires. It may have different wrappings from generation to generation, but at its core, it remains constant. What was attractive wrapping 50 years ago, helping people understand what was being said, doesn’t necessarily speak the same to those receiving the message today. A different wrapping might be required.

Socially acceptable

What seems to be overlooked in the noise we create while striving to present ourselves as socially acceptable may divert us from sharing the truth openly. Failing to speak the truth can be as harmful as denying it. Without exposure, truth remains misunderstood by its audience, and when finally expressed, it feels foreign.

Dear brothers I am not writing out a new rule for you to obey, for it is an old one you have always had, right from the start. You have heard it all before. Yet it is always new and works for you…
1 John 2:7,8a TLB

The truth is trustworthy, unlike fallible methods. It remains constant. Trying to present the truth in a way that is acceptable to the masses is often impossible, as the truth can hurt before it heals. Truth is like that “faithful friend” who won’t let us down:

Faithful are the wounds of a friend. But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Proverbs 27:6 NKJ

What is truth?

In our present-day age of political correctness, the truth of God’s word gets silenced by the static of the world. What we are experiencing today reminds me of a time in Israel’s history when no king or ruler existed. They had no governing power over them.

So the children of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and family; they went out from there, every man to his inheritance. In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Judges 21: 24,25 NKJV

This lack of centralized leadership led to chaos, moral decline, and oppression by Israel’s enemies. God did not want Israel to have a king; He wanted to lead the people Himself. In 1 Samuel 8, the people went to the prophet Samuel and said, “Now make us a king to judge us like all the other nations” (See vs. 5). Instead of allowing God to lead them through His appointed judges, they resisted the words of the judges God appointed over them which resulted in chaos. The people rejected God’s leadership and wanted to do what everyone else was doing. They preferred lies over truth (see Romans 1:24-26). The fallen nature of humankind will automatically resist truth for a lie.

This refusal of God’s preference plunged the nation into a profound decline. By the end of the era of kings, 42 kings and one queen had ruled over God’s people. Their reigns together lasted around 520 years. (Click here for more information, if you are brave, to read more about the time of the kings.)

A mystery

Why we choose to follow our own paths instead of God’s remains a mystery. God, who has consistently proven His faithfulness, receives the same rejection from us today as He did from Israel all those years ago.

When we encounter trouble, our instinctive reaction is determining our next step. Instead of seeking God’s guidance, we look for solutions elsewhere. When we reach the limits of our efforts, we throw our hands up in frustration and exclaim, “There’s no way out of this!” At that moment, we bow and ask God for an answer. We then discover that the answer has always been with us.

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
John 14:5-7 NKJV

It’s easy to blame Thomas for being so thick. He had spent much time with Jesus, seen miracles, and wondered which way to go. Jesus answered, “I am the way.” He went on and added “the truth, and the life.”

Leading others to discover the better way

In our ever-changing society, which searches for answers everywhere except God, we have the privilege of showing people around us that there is a better way. The better way is found in Jesus, who brings us to truth and life. But before we can show others the way, we must be convinced that God’s ways are the best.

Have you overlooked some of God’s truths that you believed were relevant to previous generations? Perhaps you think those ways have surpassed their “best before” dates and are no longer applicable today.

Cultures change with each group of people and even evolve with every generation. The way God’s truth is presented can vary depending on the context. What works in England likely won’t be effective in Thailand. However, the essence of the truth must be conveyed without dilution, regardless of the presentation style. Therein we find Jesus speaking, leading us in the way, the truth, and the life.

Challenge

I encourage you today to dig deep. Take a moment to reflect on how you walk with Jesus. Do you let Him lead, or have you been like Israel, wanting to be like everyone else? Jesus’ ways are perfect, and His paths lead us to life. Trust Him today.

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

The post Best Before appeared first on Cup of Faith.

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.

There’s no getting through this Christian journey without addressing the question, what does God want me to do with my life? Trevor Hudson tackles this topic with the book written under the bold title, Discovering God’s Will For Your Life: A User’s Guide to Discernment.

This short but impactful book has three main outcomes: latching into God’s vision for your life, defining discernment, and taking action on what we learn. Hudson encourages individual application of his points with short exercises found in the book. 

Discovering God’s Will for Your Life (Trevor Hudson): Published by Struik Christian Media. Available wherever books are sold.

Discernment involves recognising God’s active presence and voice so that we can respond to what God is doing and saying, and bring our lives into more harmony with God’s dream for our world. Quote p. 51

Hudson deftly explores discernment of God’s personal will through our lives through scripture, circumstances, the Holy Spirit, our giftings and conversations with those who know us well. He draws from personal experience and decades of pastoral experience. The pages of this book almost radiate with the sage and gentleness you would expect from a seventy-year-plus old pastor who is still pouring out his life for the Father and his children. Expect less ‘name it and claim it’ type ra-ra moments and more slower, head-nodding ‘a-ha!’ moments.

Our personal calling is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet. – Trevor Hudson

One of Hudson’s key principles to discerning God’s personal will for your life is to reflect on what you have learnt in your life experiences. The wisdom of experience is only unlocked, he explains, when one takes the time to reflect on the success and failure of circumstances. This is probably why the book is laden with ‘discernment exercises’ to put the knowledge found in these pages into immediate action.

What I loved most about this book was its simple practicality. It is straightforward and easy to understand but acts a teaser to go deeper with God for oneself. I personally loved Hudson’s reflection on spiritual consolation and spiritual desolation, a principle I have used since in trying to discern next steps in decisions.

This book is not for anyone who is looking for an easy way to hear God’s voice for themselves. It is rather a book for those looking to forge spiritual ‘tools’ for their lifelong ‘discernment toolbox’. 

I hope you will pick up a copy of this book and be encouraged to seek out God’s personal will for your life!

This book was kindly sent to me by Struik Christian Media for review. All views expressed are my own.

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 Book Review: Discovering God’s Will For Your Life: A User’s Guide To Discernment By Trevor Hudson appeared first on Cup of Faith.

Many readers will recognise the name Louie Giglio as the founder of the Passion conferences and the famous ‘Indescribable’ preacher. In his book, Seeing God as a Perfect Father (an updated and retitled edition of Not Forsaken), Giglio shares truth about God’s fatherhood, our worldly and Western understanding of fatherhood and invites us to untangle the two for a freer, more powerful Christian walk.

Published by Thomas Nelson and distributed in South Africa by Struik Christian Media. Available wherever books are sold.

Giglio grapples with many challenging aspects surrounding the concept of fatherhood and ways in which our vision of God’s fatherhood may be clouded. He shares six possible stereotypical fathers we may have had, which have in turn impacted our view of God’s fatherhood. He writes with Christ-centred passion about the way in which God positions himself as a father to us. Did you know that Jesus refers to God as ‘Father’ more than any other term? Readers familiar with Louie Giglio will recognise his reverence, love for story-telling and astronomy drops. He flavours his writing with testimonies and vulnerable details about his relationship with his own father.

I appreciated the book’s willingness to provide a fresh and honest perspective of the difficulty of relating to God as a father without losing an awe-inspiring perspective of God’s perfect love for us, his children. I wrote previously about my journey to find approval from my father in heaven and wasn’t surprised to come across the topic of approval early on in this book. It’s a biggie.

I was convicted by the last few chapters which painted a picture of what a life impacted by a personal relationship to a Father God might look like practically.

I don’t know what kind of earthly father you had, but I know that God has spanned heaven and earth to reach you. And I know if you want one, the reality of a perfect Father can be yours. I pray your eyes are open to see Him as He truly is, and your heart is beating fast knowing His eyes are on you and His heart is for you. His blessing is full and free. The waterfall is pouring down goodness today. His spiritual genes have re-created you and His hand is there to lead you. You can take your next step as a loved daughter –a loved son – of the perfect Father. Quote from p. 209

If we are born-again children grafted into a new family with a new father, we will no longer be trapped by old, unhelpful habits passed down from generation to generation. We can be imitators of our spiritual Dad.

This book is great for newer Christians and readers who don’t enjoy too much jargon. It is written in a comfortable and light style which makes the challenging subject matter easier to digest. Readers who were not brought up in a predominantly Western home may not relate entirely to some descriptions of difficulties Giglio describes. If you have ever wondered about God’s ‘father heart’ towards you or have had difficulties relating to your own earthly father, this book is a great introduction to these subjects without being too heavy.

This book was kindly sent to me by Struik Christian Media for review. All views expressed are my own.

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 Seeing God as a Perfect Father by Louie Giglio appeared first on Cup of Faith.

Thursday the first of August is Cup of Faith’s sixth birthday!

It’s been a beautiful, grace-filled challenge to pick up the website from Megan. I have loved getting to know our writers and our community over the past year. When we open our hearts and hands to the Holy Spirit, and take a bold step to share, our impact is immeasurable. He so longs to speak to us. He so longs to speak to us through each other, too! I’d like to share a throwback quote from Megan’s post on Cup of Faith’s first birthday:

Truthfully, God doesn’t call us to be anything more than ourselves, He puts us exactly where we’re meant to be and it’s up to us to be obedient and trust. Online ministry still seems too large of a label but I will say that God continues to reveal an exciting path for Cup of Faith and as long as this platform is serving Him and our community, I’ll continue to be obedient and trust Him to guide me.

I echo her sentiments and would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has been along for this journey.

To celebrate this day, I’ve put together a giveaway hamper! The hamper includes the following products from our store:

• 1 x Walk by Faith T-shirt
• Purpose & Proverbs Bible Tabs
• ‘The Blessing’ wall hanging by Purpose & Proverbs 
• 1 x 250g bag Coffee Beans
• Made to Create Bible Study

To enter, all you have to do is:

1. Follow us on Instagram
2. Like our giveaway post
3. Comment by tag a friend on Instagram
4. Share to Instagram stories (don’t forget to tag us!)

Terms and Conditions: Competition closes on the 16th of August. The winner will be announced across all social media platforms on the 17th of August and has 48-hours to claim the prize before a new winner is selected. Prize cannot be transferred or exchanged for cash. No purchase is necessary to enter. This giveaway is only open to South African residents. Giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram or product providers.

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.

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In 2007 a ministry appointment in a London Church taught me a lesson that remains valuable and changed my perspective on what the Apostle Paul means when he says, “I am poured out for the sake of the Kingdom” (2 Tim 4:6). God indeed requires us to practice a lifestyle or meekness.

Meet Pastor Bamidele

Bamidele is a Nigerian name in the Yoruba language. It means, “Follow me Home” or “Come Home with Me”.  I hope that this story will ignite a passion that will take up Bamidele on his offer. He was the Senior Pastor of a relatively large Nigerian church on the outskirts of London. A church that hosted us for tea after the morning service. This was not an unusual occurrence for international guests. As an itinerant missions team, we always enjoyed the spirit of hospitality that showered us. We were “waited-on” hand and foot. Around the table we enjoyed good conversation with Pastor Bamidele and his family. Eventually it was time for us to be taken to our hotel. The Pastor and two of his elders shuttled us. When we arrived Pastor Bamidele, in the true spirit of chivalry, opened the car door for me and carried my bags. 

 “How delightful! What an incredible leader.” You have to understand that while I experienced chivalry at many levels it was not the norm for senior church leaders to do the tasks normally assigned to deacons or elders. Bamidele wasn’t dressed in Gucci’s or Armani’s (as is the habit amongst many) yet was an interesting and deep conversationalist – kind and generous in gesture. The sort of person that piques one’s curiosity. A quiet unassuming man with an air of mastery.

The Face of Meekness

Standing at the front desk I heard the receptionist say, “Welcome and thank you Doctor.” I turned to him in amazement, “You never said a word. Why is it that nobody at your church calls you Doctor? You carried my bags and waited on us without any airs and graces. You are different. The modern church is so focused on titles that it’s truly become more about designation than meaningful engagement that upholds dignity. This is such a refreshing introduction to servanthood. Or perhaps it is a fresh perspective on godly leadership.”

He watched my animated gestures with a shy smile, 

“The title wasn’t important enough to mention”. A rare response.     

“So then, what kind of doctor are you?”

“I’m a Physicist.”

“Wow, I think you’re the first Physicist I’ve met.”

We laughed. A connecting moment. Not the man with a professional title, not the man who led churches but a friend. It wasn’t in what he said but how graciously and sincerely he said it;
it wasn’t in his demeanour – though he carried himself with confident modesty. He was one of the team. I found it amusing that I heard no congregant refer to or address him as doctor. 

Pastor Bamidele seemed to simply “BE”. He wore “Presence” with elegant eloquence. He seemed like a man whose only passion was to ensure that the sheep in his care were taken care of. He explained it to me very clearly when I raised a few questions. 

“I am a Shepherd called for the sheep, and while my academic achievements are a gift it has no bearing on my Pastoral calling. An earned credit. I did not earn my calling – it is a gift not asked for neither deserved. God deemed it so and I opened my heart and said, “Yes Lord, I will be your servant to the people”.                                                                                                                 

The Heart of Humility

Oh, the prize of servanthood. Pastor Bamidele reflected godly assurance in his straight back and sure gait. In the lowered head when he picked up my bags. In a knowing that God sees and that his approval was more glorious than any pat on the back.
Humility shines through best in an unassuming character. It shows up when we are called to deny ourselves. Dying to the desire to announce who we are and how educated or gifted we are. How entitled we are. This is why Jesus was able to sit with those others called “unimportant”, lowly”, “depraved”. He sees what we do not. He sees people through His Father’s eyes.

Humility is not in carrying yourself as if you have no value, bent and “a doormat”, but in our attitude towards serving others. Humility is bowing low to wash the feet of those the world would place as “low class”. The poor, the uneducated, the less fortunate. 

Jesus tells us the reward for humility in Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Titles are meaningless if we cannot be servants. The pursuance of earthly achievement without the spirit of servanthood is a futile climb. It profits nothing. It has no eternal reward. 

“What shall it profit a man if he was to gain the whole world but lose his soul?” (Mark 8:34-38) We can never stop being servants, meaning to serve and to be servant-minded. Herein lies the willingness to pick up the “tray” and serve. Clothing our hearts and understanding in humility is born through practice – and practice brings awareness – awareness holds us accountable.

How to Practice Pastor Bamidele’s Humility:

1.  Lower your head so that another may be lifted up.
2. Esteem your brothers and sisters higher than yourself.
3. Be transparent and stand exposed before God.
4. Paul was an Apostle who prayed and praised in prison alongside Timothy as a brother.           
5. Pick up bags and host graciously.
6. Mop floors without thought – be a part of the team.
7. Bathe the sick; adopt the lowly spirit Jesus showed when He washed His disciple’s feet.           
8. Carry food to the hungry
9. Be a servant behind the pulpits; behind the podium – practice your gift to uplift and serve.
10. Remain bowed before the throne of God.
11. Deny the desire for accolades lest you draw glory to yourself that belongs to God alone.
12. Embrace a lifestyle of brotherhood and sisterhood.
13. Pursue to profit others rather than be exalted a Prophet.
14. Pursue the greatest of all gifts: to be poured out for the sake of the kingdom. 

Humility is like throwing a purple cape over our shoulders. We take upon ourselves the most regal nature of our Father.

It is simply in BEING what you are called to be: God’s heart and hands.

We are undoubtedly called to serve. It is a gift of grace that impacts all we do. 

When we serve, we introduce the very nature of Christ, the Giver of eternal life. 

This is leadership. 

Calling. 

Servanthood. 

This is the very essence of godly humility.

May you follow Pastor Bamidele, 

home.

Beulah Kleinveldt

Beulah Kleinveldt or Ms B”, as she is fondly known is a mother, grandmother and mentor. Her journey speaks of success and victory, failure, shame and restoration. A passion to live an intentional life.

4shadesofscarlet.blogspot.com/

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