God will even it out!

It’s been a while! It’s a new week, God’s abundant blessings be upon you and yours…

Have you’ve been waiting for God to manifest His glory in your life or have you’ve been waiting for God’s promises to come to pass in your life? If yes than I believe this word is for you…

It’s remarkable to see how the smallest member of the body has so much power even over death and life. The bible says in Proverbs 18:21 NIV that “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” You see everything that is, God spoke it into existence.

The tongue is able to produce life if you use it to speak life with, it also has the ability to destroy, to torn down, to demolish, and break others, it can even bring death in ones life!

Last year I had a revelation and God spoke to me and allowed me to share some things in my local church, as I was speaking to the saints of God and I was telling them to come drink at the well of Jesus to refresh their souls to keep on moving the Lord was doing something on the inside of me…

At some point I even told the people that I am believing God for a “Samuel” as in like Hannah prayed weeping bitterly for a son, and she asked God to remember her. As I said allot of things I also said I could probably carry one more baby, and that was all I was going to have (3)…

Now I realise that the revelation God gave me is now being manifested in my life, I proclaimed, decreed and believed that which God had shown me. Little did I know I was prophesying to myself. I had the faith to believe in God to see His revelation through.

This is now months later God is blessing my family and I with twin boys (I already have two girls walking around), we couldn’t ask for more… We give God all the glory and honour for it. Only He could do it. In a few more months we will welcome these baby boys into or life.

The reason why I am telling you this is to encourage you to whatever God promised you or showed to you that you could do or have and will be is on its way if you declare it over your life and believe in it! Put your faith at work an wait and see God’s manifestation in your life.

God is good and He is faithful to complete the good work in you until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

Persevere and stay faithful and you’ll see God’s mighty work in you! God can and will even things out in your life!

Have a blessed week

Yours truly,

Shaina Margaritha-Domitilia

Get out!

MESSES WE CAN’T GET OUT BY OURSELVES!

Often we get ourself into messes we can’t get out by ourself. Than there came God with His love, grace and mercy! He cleansed us, He forgave us our trespasses and set us off into the right direction. This all with the purpose that our lights may shine and ultimately to give Him the glory.. but ass human beings we are given the choice to work with diligence to stay on the right path, but as known the flesh is weak and some tend to give into the desires of their own flesh. Some people go back to the destructive things that ones were, the same persons whom ones were bad for their life, the same ones whom left them broke and empty. Now there is nothing impossible for God. He did it ones before, He can do it again but only if it’s your choice to break off/ cut off bad relationships and leave behind everything that is not in God’s will for your life! Today make that choice for yourself and start of fresh leave it behind and don’t go back.. remember even when the process is hard, God is faithful to complete what He started in your life!!

Prayer:

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11 NIV

With love

S. Margaritha-Domitilia

#freshstart #year2018 #boundedinChrist #subjectedtoChrist #Iwontgoback

A strategic God

Hey there today I’m going to write you out of the subject “A strategic God” – it will be a expository writing so bear with me and we will get through this writing. The text that has my attention is written in 2 Kings 4:1-7

You know better…

Hey there…God bless you on this beautiful day. I received a word that I am going to share with you if only you have the time to read it. In these last days I have spoken with some people and the main question that has been asked is “What is wrong, I don’t understand, what is going on?” I started to pray about and got this answer. “There is a spiritual solution for your psychical need but their is no psychical solution for your spiritual need”.

Now this is very profound cause what does this mean God. And my conversation with God goes one and I receive this “Problems arise when you try to mix in worldly knowledge with Divine wisdom”. Now God wait a minute the one moment we are talking about needs and the next thing I know we are talking about wisdom, which one is it. Than He says “Wisdom is a need”, you need wisdom in order for things to go well.

Let the wise add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance… The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Fool doesn’t have anything to do with ones capacity or if he has some type of degree. It simply mean you know better than to go your own way. Fools are the ones who choose their own ways instead of following the Lord’s paths.)

“Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you My teachings. – …..but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” Proverbs 1: 23,33

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in ALL your ways submit to Him, and He will make your PATHS STRAIGHT. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she (wisdom) is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding He set the heavens in place; by His knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. Do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and YOUR FOOT WILL NOT STUMBLE.

Why are you friends with those who are being a fool and those who mock God? – You know better than that cause the Bible says in Psalms 1:1 “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,…”

Why are you testing yourself to see if you can withstand temptation?  – You know better than that cause the scripture says in 2 Timothy 2:22-24 “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.”

Why are you thinking that you know what is best? – Galatians 6:3 “For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”

Arrogance will harden the heart. On the long term the heart will not accept the teachings of the Lord and will follow his own path that leads to more problems and self-destruction. And than you want to blame God for it. You want to find excuses to settle the issue in a way that makes you feel comfortable without the need to address the real issue that is you.

YOU KNOW BETTER, HOLD ON TO THE WORD OF GOD AND HIS PROMISES.

God bless you.

With loving regards,

Shaina Domitilia

Inner strength vs. Outward appearance..

God bless you, today I’m going to write you out of the topic “My inner strength vs. My outward appearance. Actually it is the story of Samson and Delilah that is being told in Judges 16: 1-22, 28-30. This topic has been on my heart since the year 2015 (in which my mother past away). I remember asking her to do a sermon together on this but her physical strength was not enough. Though she was tired she was constantly praying for me. I caught her one time in her final days calling, I thought she was calling for me, but when the morphine had worn out she could say some extra words and she would say, I’m praying for you because you are going to be alone. Though she was looking tired on the outside her inner strength kept her.

In the text of Judges 16 we can read about Samson. Some facts about Samson;

• he was a Nazarite (Numbers 6) meaning he was separated from birth to do the work of the Lord. / Judges 13:7
• he needed to abstain from wine grapes, with every production of the vine and from every kind of intoxicating drink (vinegar). Numbers 6:3-4 / Judges 13:4
• during the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor may be used on their head. They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the Lord is over; they must let their hair grow long. Numbers 6:5 / Judges 13:5
• he was forbidden to approach any dead body, even that of his nearest relation Numbers 6:6
• he had an weakness for woman –> Delilah

Delilah was an asset of the Philistines rulers, she had to see if she can lure Samson into showing her the secret of his great strength and how they could overpower him so they may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of the Philistines rulers would give her eleven hundred shekels of silver. (Judges 16:5)

You see you need to know your weakness to abstain from it, walk away. If you know certain people are not good for you (intoxicating), don’t stay and try to work them. Before you know it they will be controlling you as for in the story of Samson and Delilah.

Four times Delilah asked him how he could be subdued. For the first three times she tested him and proved that he was not telling the truth. But as for Samson he could have been wiser in walking away after the first three times after being tested in what he answered Delilah but he had stayed.

• First time: Judges 16: 6-7
• Second time: Judges 16: 10-11
• Third time: Judges 16: 12-13
• Fourth time: Judges 16: 15-18

Often we find ourself in the same spot as Samson, we stay try to work it and after a while we are so worn out of our strength, we are just drained by a toxic relationship. The fourth time Samson poured his heart out, and told Delilah everything. Delilah manipulate him by using the following words “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me?” 

After confiding Delilah the secret of his heart Delilah put him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him. If you don’t walk away before you know it your are being controlled. Than the text continues in vs. 20-21

²⁰ Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. ²¹ Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison.

Samson is now being taken as prisoner, but here comes the good part. In verse 22 the bible says that the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved. There is a very familiar text in the bible that says let the weak say that they are strong. In his weakness Samson became strong, as his hair was growing back on. Samson prayed to God in vs.28 and asked God to renew his strength, just once more, and to let him with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for his two eyes. And the Lord heard his prayers.

A years ago almost a year and a half I walked away from a toxic relationship, it cost me twice the strength to pull it. I say twice the strength because I tried leaving once before with no success but words kept me longer than intended.. I knew staying wasn’t going to please God, it was not good for my marriage, it wasn’t good for my family, so I decided that I was just going to walk away from it without looking back on what it could be. I shared part of this story in an earlier post (2016) around the time of my divorce trial. But God is faithful, He has mend me and my husband together, the relationship that used to be is now stronger than before with a three strands cord. (Ecclesiastes 4:12) For this testimony read: https://shainadomitilia.wordpress.com/2016/08/22/rebuilding-is-a-process

The text ends saying in verse 30 “ Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.”

He killed more Philistines than while he lived. In these days we need to set our own desires aside, we need to submit and seek the Lord for new direction in our lives. Our fleshly side has to die so we can be resurrected with Jesus as He was resurrected from the dead after dying for our sins.

I hope this writing blessed you as it did me.

Greetings,

Shaina Li Domitilia-Margaritha

Friend: “I’m fine”

Hey there this is a new week with new opportunities. May God bless you and that you’ll find favour in the sight of God and men. Today I’m going to talk about friends (friendship), it could be the next upcoming  series but for now just this one topic. Today’s topic is ” I’m fine “.

Sometimes we find ourself in a pit, in  a condition where we need help. We need people to carry us to Jesus, so that He can forgive us (again) and heal us from our  lameness. There is a remarkable story being told in the bible about a man that was paralyzed.

Mark 2:1-3 “A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. ² They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. ³ Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them” . 

Some men came (four of them), assuming they were his friends, they came carrying the paralyzed man. First off all they knew the man, the knew his condition and together they knew he needs Jesus. So even the people had gathered in large numbers and the fact that there was no room left, not even outside the door, it didn’t stop them.

I must say I’m very happy with my surroundings. My husband covers me as I cover him. I have friends “Sisters” that know me for who I am and they are willing to stand by me whatever it takes. We cover each other in prayer, when we need to say something that may have hurt or we just didn’t like the way something happened, it doesn’t make us feel offended by it or less. We forgive, we seek options, we talk things through and we move one. We grow closer. We don’t just give up on the friendship because we didn’t like certain things. Everyday we have we get know each other better and know how every character is. I’m happy with leaders that will cover me in prayer and hear me out as I cover them in prayer and hear them out. (I guess I needed to get this part out as well) But coming back to the main topic the bible continues saying in

Mark 2:4-5 “⁴ Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. ⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

So these four men made an opening in the roof and then lowered the mat the man was laying on. Again the recognised the condition there friend was in, they knew they couldn’t do nothing but to bring him to Jesus. The text says when Jesus saw their faith.. meaning that He didn’t see the paralyzed man his faith but all of them who were their with him. So this man is making an entrance through to roof thanks to his friends and now the continuation..

Mark 2:6-12 “⁶ Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ⁷ “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

⁸ Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? ⁹ Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? ¹⁰ But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, ¹¹ “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” ¹² He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

There will always be critic, you see Jesus was explaining Himself to the teachers, clarifying their thoughts! And the text continuing by saying that Jesus told the man to get up, to take his mat and to go home. And the man did all what Jesus commanded him an walked out in full view of them all. Everyone amazed and now praising God.

I love this story because:

• Entrance: the man was lowered through to roof, because he was paralyzed. He couldn’t do it himself and needed friends who can bring him somewhere.
• Exit: He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. (You see first he needed help but now he is fine. He can carry the mat himself
  

  “The mat used to carry me in, but now I am getting up and will carry it out.”

• Entrance: He needed his friends to help him get to Jesus
• Exit: Now he is fine, he doesn’t need help.
  

  “I need to be able to tell you I’m fine, without you getting offended by it”

This story could’ve be completely different if the friends were in the same condition as the paralyzed man. Who would’ve carry whom. None of them would have been able to help one and other.

When look at the process of the hospital;

• It starts by you getting checked in  (by loved ones, people that care about your health),
• The second thing you know you are being placed into a room with other sick patience and on that floor we are all sick.

Therefore you have nurses and doctors that are trying their very hard best to help you out of the condition you are in and up to your feed so you can get checked out and go home. It will cost the hospital a lot if you stay in for a long time, it may also cost another their life cause there is no place to check them in. So if we are sick and gather with sick people we are just a group of sick people. After a while it becomes normal that everyone associated to that group is someone with any kind of sickness

• So that is why the final step is to get you in a good condition where you go home and be checked out of the hospital.

It is proven that if people are in environment where they feel at home they tend to get well faster or live longer than to stay into the hospital.

But to come back to the point where you to have friends that are able to set aside differences and needs to see you of good. And when you are good you now can help others get well as well.

It is not for nothing that Psalms 1:1 says “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,..”

It is very important to know who you are connected to, what they can bring to the table! You need to be yourself while with them without it comprising the fact that when you need to speak up you can’t really say what is on your because it may affect the relationship. If we are friends and I can’t tell you about something that doesn’t fit, why we are friends than? It’s a question that needs to be considerate in every relationship.

Often you see in films and movies if an operation has been compromised that they need the abort the mission. In this case the Chief Commander is God and if you need to say something and you can’t because of the consequences you need to rethink the position you are in and abort the friendship. You are being held back and can’t grow and move forward like this. Sometimes it is necessary to let some people go, they fulfilled their purpose in your life.

If I can say something to you, without it making you quit me , you aren’t for me. And if I can’t correct you without you leaving me, you aren’t for me.

“Don’t hold on unto someone that wasn’t supposed to stay in your life forever.”

Are just going to keep on weeping on what was and isn’t or will you walk with what is?

“Don’t mourn longer than you need to. Move on..”

God has a plan and purpose for you (Jeremiah 29:11 “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”🙂 and it may notplay out the way you expected it. But remember Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.”

Thank God for friendship!

God bless you and keep you.

Shaina Li Domitilia- Margaritha

“My legacy” (Series on kids)

Blessings to you and yours. This past week was one with many trials and I’ve experienced a lot of oppression but thank God we made it to the final writing of these series on kids. The topic I’m writing from today is “My legacy”. There are few definition you can find on the term legacy but when it comes to this context these two definitions do fit.

1. anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor:
2. an applicant to or student at a school that was attended by his or her parent.

Ad. 1 You may ask what is it that I past on to my children and the next generation there after. Well it’s plain an simple. The teachings of the bible may be engraved into their hearts as The Word of God traveled through generations out. As been pointed out before it is my duty to start them off right in the way they should go. It’s my responsibility to teach them the Word of God, How to pray, What worship really means and why it is so important to stay in the Lord that He may stay in us.

Ad. 2 You may ask which school I attended to well I’ve been to school with Jesus (Books of Matthew – Mark – Luke and John), After this I’ve attended college at the Word of God. (Thru the Bible), and now I’m attending at the University of the Holy Spirit as John and Peter. (As in the book of Acts.) This is what I’m going to teach them, so when they grow old they will know where they came from and that it is their duty to pass on these teachings to the next generations.

You see the bible says in Proverbs 17:6 “Old people are distinguished by grandchildren;
children take pride in their parents.” (MSG version)

You see grandchildren are a crown to the age, they bring joy to them, they are being spoiled by their grandparents (if it where you doing something that was not supposed to at that age it may have turn out completely different, now you hear leave them be)

Children take pride in their parents. In order to be their pride you must have done something good, like loving them, educating them (spiritually), feeding them, clothing them, covering them (prayer), helping them, being compassionate to them etc.

The bible says in Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and mother so that you’ll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you.” While reading this you can read also that you need to give them something so they can honor you in, bring them up, learning them the ways of the Lord and giving them the space to serve before the Lord. While providing this, they will experience their own relationship with God. A kid can only honor what they know. When the Psalmist is writing in Psalms 119:9 how young people can keep their paths clean “How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
 By living according to your word.” Further more the scripture also says that we need to keep the commandments in our hearts.

Proverbs 1:8 states the following :“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” This right here implies that both the father and the mother has a role in imparting Godly wisdom into their kids. Both has a task to fulfil. As it was my mothers task to bring me to church, teach me about God’s word and start me off right. Believe me, I wasn’t always as behaved as I am today. I can clearly remember one day  I was rebelling against her and she said in a very calm and serious way “I fear for you, do not forget that one day you will have your one kids and they will act out as worse or worser than you just did.” With other words what you sow you will reap. This right here got me thinking, had shaken me, woke me up. I didn’t want to be that kind of person, I wanted to change, that kind of change you experience when you meet God and has encounter Jesus following by living through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Many of the chapters in the book of Proverbs has this line written “My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.” (Proverbs 1:8 ; 2:1 (willingness) ; 3:1, 4:1,4 ; 5:1,7 ; 6:20 ; 7:1 ; 8:10-11, 32-34 ; and so one in the following chapters. If you seek for this line you’ll find it integrated in every chapter. This here shows us that as parents, we need to repeat our selfs more than ones, more than twice. Their whole life we need to impart in them with love, kindness, compassion, grace… You see they need to be willing to develop their zeal for God’s teachings, Word. They need to know to fear the Lord. Not by pressing on to them  just by saying you must, you must, you must, cause this will led to rebellion. After this they don’t want to listen anymore but by modelling it to them it will penetrate into their hearts. As we have been instructed with love, patience sometimes in parables, sometimes just by questions asked that puts us to thinking for ourselves what would Jesus do. Learn them to pray about it and find out what is God’s desire. Learn them to live a holy life led by the Holy Spirit.

You can see through generations how the Word of God is passed down, this legacy is passed down in the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17) This is a legacy that is continuing to be passed down to others. We will start in our own home and from their we are to spread it out. That is why we can read in John 1:1-5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome^[a] it.“

By repeating the Word on a daily basis it becomes part of a child it will be like a natural instinct. Like when somebody invites them to steal or do something against God’s will, they need to know what the bible says about stealing or any other topic of the matter. Kids need to be able and given the chance to develop that kind of attitude that comes in alignment with what the word of God says. Attitude is a certain behaviour to a certain subject/topic. You will act conforming that which you know and  have experienced. It is simply a settled way of thinking or feeling about something. 

As parent patience is they key word to instruct a kid. You see not every kid is the same and to be compared they have their own characters. They are unique and needs to be handled with care. They are innocent and fragile. They are in the molding process.

What does the bible says about spanking? (I don’t refer to abuse!!)  The books of Proverbs is a guideline for us to bring our children up Proverbs 13:24 ; 23:13-14 ; 29:15,17 ; 22:15. However it serves as good in our own relationship towards our Heavenly Father.

Practical teachings, this is a method I myself apply it’s a 7-steps plan provided by Focus on the family is: (optional but it is biblical though, everyone has their one ways and know their kids better) – my kids have the ages of four and six so this works perfectly in our home.

• Clear warning: this a warning that certain behaviour will not be tolerated.
• Establish responsibility: a child needs to own up his/her misbehaviour. This an example how this step can be achieved:”Bounty/Boopy, what did you do wrong?””Nothing. All the kids were running in the hallways of the church building.”

  “Try again. What did you do wrong?”

  “I ran into the hallways …”

  “I’m going to give you one more chance. What did we talk about?”

  “I’m not supposed to run in the hallways of the church building.”

  “So what did you do wrong?”

  “I disobeyed you.”

• Avoid embarrassment: All this accomplishes is shame. Take them to a private place or wait until getting home. I had the learn this cause I was brought up in another form so never knew what the damage actually was. So now I just wait or if it is a serious matter I call them in a private place to talk about the matter or I just whisper into their ears.
• Communicate grief: I don’t want to necessarily know that I am angry but I do want to communicate that I am disappointed in certain misbehaviour and that it should not happen again. Or I just let them know that my trust has been violated cause they knew better. You see as parent our self we live in a sinful world and when we fall short of the glory God looks a at us with a grieving heart just as a loving Father.
• Flick your wrist: Spanking – It’s to sting, to provide a painful deterrent to misbehaviour, not to injure. “When you spank, use a wooden spoon or some other appropriately sized paddle and flick your wrist. That’s all the force you need. It ought to hurt — an especially difficult goal for mothers to accept —  and it’s okay if it produces a few tears and sniffles. If it doesn’t hurt, it isn’t really discipline, and ultimately it isn’t very loving because it will not be effective in modifying the child’s behaviour.”
• Sincere repentance: After a spanking we call them my husband or I call them and this is the perfect time we can and will model love and let them sit over our lap, hugging and just talk about what happened. I don’t like spanking, so I often say sorry as they ask for forgiveness and excuses them self for the misbehaviour. These dialogues trains them up for a life relationship with God. A life of relating to God humbly and honestly as no other experience could experience.
• Unconditional love: Some of my most intimate times with my children is after a moment of discipline, my husband can testify about this. I will call the kids, and tell them that I am sorry but that sometimes it is necessarily, I will tell them how much I love them and that I don’t like those kind of moments so together we can work on the missing things to prevent the same misbehaviour to happen a next time. This learns them that God forgives us for our sins but that we must really repent at the core of our heart to not repeat the same mistakes over and over.

This was the final writing of the series on kids. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have. I pray that these words will bring transformation and be a blessing of any kind to you. Through trial and tribulations but I made it an you made it.

Be blessed.

With loving regards,

Shaina Li Domitilia-Margaritha

 

Pushing through the Pain

 

I like to talk about pain, before that I will like to point out two kinds of pain…let me explain.

I use to be a very athletic person and could run 10 Km easy, but for the past 9 years, I stop exercising and gain about 25 Kg. This year I started experiencing pain in my body, a wrong kind of pain…pain that was caused by unbalanced diet and lack of exercise.

Three months ago I decided to starts walking, just walking. The first time I walked about 6 km, during this first walk I was in such a pain I took many breaks.
The following days the pain was there, but you see, it was the other kind of pain, growing pain, the same pain you experience when you exercise, lift weights etc…pain you experience when you wanna go to a next level.

I kept doing my walks and the pain became less, but the pain is still there, but much less. Then I decided to start running …I wanted to go to the next level!!! First time I didn’t make it to 300 meters and the pain was worst, I took breaks after breaks.
My next run I told myself to push through the pain and I ran 1 Km….yes!!!, but the pain is still there…. but it’s the right kind of pain, growing pain!! “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” – Matthew 24:13

In our daily walk with the Lord, we will experience pain, but we have to push through, it’s growing pain. Sometimes we confused the two kinds of pains….maybe we are having an unbalanced “spiritual” diet or maybe we are not doing our spiritual exercises… meaning prayer and reading the word of God, then we will experience the wrong kind of pain, but if we are eating from His word and move the way He tells us to move, there will still be pain, but the right kind of pain, pain that takes you to the next level. We experience pain during exercises and the pain may last for days. In our spiritual life, we may still experience pain after doing everything the way it’s supposed to be done, but you need to remember this, it is the process of growing and becoming stronger in our walk with the Lord Jesus.

I remember both times we gave birth to our two daughters…I say “we” because I like to think I felt 100% the same pain as my wife and pushed together with her till the end….we will always push together through pain and we had a lot of those.

Let me finish saying, no matter how painful it can be you have to push through the pain, and you will go to the next level in the name of Jesus Christ.“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

I’m approaching 10Km runs … the pain is still there …but I’m on another level, and God gave me this writing during today’s run, thank you Jesus.

Amen.

Greetings,

R. Domitilia

“My Household” (series on kids)

Blessings, here am I in the early mornings writing to you again with the follow up on my earlier blog “Little imitators”. Today I am going to speak out of the topic “My household”, as long as you understand that this is a spiritual matter that needs to be point out. When I am writing to you is not out of the carnal point of view. For as the Word of God is revealed to me in secret, in the same way I will make it public and  bring it to you without the need to make it  acceptable for you. You see the Word of God serves as revelation, to alert, a wake up call, as for it is written in the bible “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” – Hebrew 4:12. It aches when we are not aligned with the Word of God. We tend to rebel against it, instead of leaving our own ways and turn to God, we go mad.

A vivid example of this is the story of king Saul. He was chosen by the people of Israel, but Saul misused his power, he stopped following God orders and did things as it pleased himself. Than there came David a simple boy that shepherd the flock. Everybody is singing and saying Saul killed thousands but David killed ten thousands.  King Saul is not pleased, he is jealous at the one God appointed and anointed to be the follow up. He is jealous at the one God qualified. So king Saul is now rejected by God and King David is installed. When we rebel against the will and word of God the bible describes it like sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. (1 Samuel 15:23) Let’s be intentional about the word of God and stop pretending and live by the standards of God. Stop the slandering of God’s children for we must account to Him what we did with His flock. Then came King David he wasn’t perfect neither but God still used Him. The word of God came to him through the servant Nathan (2 Samuel 12:7, 9, 13 and following verses) it ached David, he was ashamed and he confessed. The confession King David made is readable in Psalm 51. The consequences were still there even though he was pardoned for his actions.  (I’m jumping through the text) but when you study the bible around the topic Eli – Samuel – Saul – David while reading it, it will be made clear. 

So when God speaks to me how to manage my household I must listen (those that have ears to hear, listen – than the Bible says don’t be only listeners of the Word but doers of the word, this means live by God’s word, I must follow in what He is saying, I must fear God and I must start in my own household.. I need to make sure that my offspring grows up and be like Samuel who picked David as the one God had chosen. He grew in wisdom and stature (1 Samuel 2:26). At a very young age he could here God calling out for him, the only thing he had to say is “Speak Lord for Your servant listens”. I need to make sure my kids grow up in wisdom and stature just as Jesus (Luke 2:52) at a young age He was found in the temple courts among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. The hunger of God’s word consumes me, as David saith “for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me” Psalm 69:9. 

Timothy the spiritual son of Paul wrote in his letters the following 1 Timothy 3: 4-5 (Elders) “⁴ He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full^[a] respect. ⁵ (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)”  Now a days we feel sorry for the kids, in the community now a days you hear people say, a kid must be a kid, you find people against the fact the of kids learning to preach at small age or learning to serve God properly. We leave a lot of years go by while they are being touted elsewhere. There is no time left. Christ is coming, what have we done all these years. We are not supposed to grow children to sit, the must develop into disciples 

Then he writes again addressing now the deacons in vs. 12 “A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.” 

As leaders, pastors or what the calling/ title may be, maybe we are just parens, but leaders and models in our own homes everything starts at home. The bible points out our duties as described in Ephesians 6:4 “⁴ Fathers,^[a] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”  This is the same as the writing as in Proverbs 22:6. I can’t minister to your home without ministering my own home. If I do so, this kind of attitude will be called a act of hypocrisy. I got to get it right first before I can help you. Whatever the arena may be I can’t help you with marital problems if I never been married and never experienced any kind of these problems and feelings. I cannot bring you to a place, where I myself never been there before. (spiritual)

The consequence of the actions of Eli’s sons brought death to Eli and sons. Eli knew what his sons were doing, but didn’t address it. We need to take care of our kids and stand up for the next generation. Some things are nature but there are some things that are nurtured, we must cultivate children with what is pleasing to the Lord. There need to be preparation. Otherwise they’ll grow with lack of knowledge. The bible says in Hosea 4:6 “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.” is this what we want? Don’t we have fear anymore for the things of the Lord? May God have mercy on us.. Jesus prayed to the Father and saith: Forgive them cause they don’t know what they are doing”

Experience: A while ago I was in the grocery store buying grocery and I was found standing in the back of the store looking at the salads, then suddenly I heard a warning call. As soon as I heard this I started praying in my inner self, cause I could not see what was happening due I was in the back of the store but I knew for sure something was happening I could feel my inner tranquility stirring inside me. That what was going on  at the time took place in the front at the main entrance/exit. I was thinking by myself Lord let me get home save to my husband and children. So while praying and gathering the goods I needed from the grocery I walked to the counter to pay for my grocery so I can get home safe. As I was approaching I saw two little boys around the age of 6 without any adult supervision, they were holding a pot of candy into there hands. They were shoplifting and the warning call was from all the people standing at the counter who saw them about to leave the store without actually paying for the candy pot. So they put those two boys in the corner and called another co-worker to handle the situation. They took the boys into the office and called for their parents. I was so shocked that I thought I need to get home fast and have another prep talk with my kids. Even though they know they are not suppose to steal or take something that is not paid for I wanted to ensure it. But the more I thought about the situation I was thinking where were the parents, the adults around that time. Are we tryin’ hard enough to see our kids start off right. What is it that we are teaching them that when we are not around they can put into practice and know that is not permitted to take something without paying for. Are we praying enough for them, are we spending enough time with them, are we hearing them out.

See I’m not perfect I’m full of rules ugghh (a part of how I was educated myself). As I start a conversation with my daughters and ask them about things they will say: “we are sometimes afraid to come tell you cause we know that you may get mad”. It is that moment that I need to balance and seek for a solution that will help them to get it right the next time and be open about it. I need to meet them in their needs and function behaviour, I need to re-evaluate myself,  I need to find the way to communicate to them until the point they know certain behaviour is not permitted, but even if that is not the case right now or it didn’t go as planned, ok so be it, the next time we can all do better. It takes both parties to involve so they can evolve to be as we are called to be.

Instructions for Christian Households

¹⁸ Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

²¹ Fathers,^[a] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

  
Biblical description of a household according the word of God: man – wife and children. A household needs to be God centric. Your kids need to reflect your heart not your hinderances. Let’s not be so busy preaching that we can’t see what is going on. Let’s not loose sight on that what really matters. (spiritual vision) Let us not be consumed by our one things that we forget that the glory belongs to God.

As the ones responsible for the little ones we need spiritual vision, we need to hear from God. Never confuse the power of the Holy Spirit for the spirit of Beelzebul. It is because Jesus knew what was in their hearts He said to them (meaning the Pharisees) written in Matthew 12:22-30 “²⁵ Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. ²⁶ If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? ²⁷ And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. ²⁸ But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

²⁹ “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.“

Prayer: Hollow be Thy Name. Lord I come before you today presenting you my household, do with us as It pleases You and do with us as see fit to do. We are merely people that wants to be used by You. Today I cancel every word that is spoken against me and my family. I rebuke every satanic power or any spirits that has been send my direction and I return them back to sender in the name of Jesus. I declare that my household is under Your management run by Your HOLY SPIRIT and covered is by the blood of Jesus Christ, whom died at the cross so we could receive the gift of salvation that was given by Your grace.! I ask You to surrounded us by Your guardian angels. Thank You Lord, all this I ask in the name of Jesus, Amen.

The word of God is, need to be, will be the foundation of my house. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.. We humble ourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift us up in due time. Next topic will be released on Friday “My legacy” (series on kids)

With loving regards,

Shaina Li Domitilia-Margaritha

Little imitators!

Hey there finally I’m back after a while. I pray that God will shower His blessing upon you and yours. Lately I’ve been very busy but I will take time to write you about the topic “Little imitators”. This past weekend I went to a seminar for leaders but not any kind of leadership, the audience target was Youth Leaders. This had me thinking where I came from and where my kids are today. Strategically I will tell you were I came from and how I grew up, where I stand today and what I can see back in my kids or not.

Education starts at home and not in school. A good foundation is laid at home and not in the house of others. People often listens to what you have to say but will follow in what you do. Telling someone what to do without modelling it to them will have no effect. The bible says “Faith without works is dead.” So if I have Faith that it will go well with my offspring but do not put any work in it automatically it will produce nothing.

As a child my mother brought me to church with her.  During praise and worship the kids used to stay in the church and after this part of the service the pastor will tell us to go gather with the Sunday school teachers so we can go and have some actual word of God on our own levels. (I’ve saved these Sunday school lessons until the day of today). I loved going to the Sunday school it brought me wisdom. As a kid I was called to minister through radio programs with the wisdom and knowledge I had received.

As you probably figured out we grow and mature in teens followed by youth, young adults and into adults. (Time flies) After my Sunday school period I graduated and got baptised and was now allowed to sit out the whole service in the seats of the church. I think 2 Sundays followed I sat in the back with the rest of the teens and the youth and realised I was not going to sit in the back just to talk during service. I packed my stuff and moved to the front row. Well there I met the Holy spirit and was deeply touched during the song “Come now is the time”. I found myself on my knees crying hands lifted up high I was only 14. I loved the feeling. I was ask to teach and do activities with the babies of the church. During praise and worship we would minister through dance. This all during my first years at my First church.

I met my husband during a radio program, we became friends, best friend and you know the relationship kept evolving into man and wife. I started visiting his church, very soon I was fully integrated there. In this period I was asked to teach the kids and teens. My husband was the youth pastor so alongside him I would pastor the youth as well. I remember all the rules we had to live by cause he was the preachers kid so all eyes on them and me including. They would say stuff like you need to be an example cause what they see you do they will do as well. Since this time I had to think everything through, believe me this was not an easy task  we had setbacks. There were times of falling but we stood up again and kept on moving. This church knew two services on Sunday. In the Morning Sunday school 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. for the whole church. Separately every age on there own level and afterwards everybody will come together and share in what they had learn. We had to memorise a key verse and explain it to one and other. The second service was from 18:00 – 21:00 everybody was in church including the kids. Well here everybody grew together.

Now we are grown ups we have kids it is our duty and responsibility to set them off right. Samuel and Jesus both grew up in favor before men and God, they grew up in the temple serving before God. Hannah made a promise and brought Samuel to Eli and Jesus asked His parents why they were looking for Him, if they didn’t know that He’s busy with the things of the Father.

I was talking to my husband and came to the realisation I don’t want to be the next Eli, ministering to people and my own household is in rebellion or acting against the Word of God. We seek new things but we can’t even get the things we do now right.  You see Eli mastered Samuel, till a certain point in Samuel’s life he had a great role. But in the end you see and read Eli had two sons they were priests but acted against the will of God and God repaid them including Eli for these actions. My first ministry is and got to be my own household. (Next topic this week “My Household”). The history of Samuel you can read in 1 Samuel chapter 2 and 3

My kids know what we thought them but do what they see us do. My oldest loves music as her father does, my husband teaches her. My youngest loves everything she see the oldest do and want to do so herself. My husband is a worship leader and is behind the keys so we all got the get classes from him in piano. Me myself, I am in dance ministry so I mainly dance with the kids and the kids mirror what they see me do. Often the kids walk in on me, seeing me studying the bible, praying, crying while deep in the presence of God they know that they can’t ask for anything while in one of those moments.  We talk allot about bible history and the teachings behind it. That is the home basis. Sundays they are supposed to learn knew things and come tell us what they had learn.

They strange thing is very often they can’t remember what they have learned in Sunday school and this bothers me. As I said before the basis is laid at home and at the church it is supposed to help and to catapult the kids in the directions of interest. What do you do then? I hear and see kids that don’t want to come to church or they mainly sit, they don’t know what to do. Aren’t we responsible for them and their life’s? I will continue this post in the next topic “My household”. Now a days kids are being smothered without even getting the chance to know the Lord. We often tell them to keep quiet, don’t do this, don’t do that. They can’t sit in church because they are a distraction or what will it say if you are permitted and others not to guide and teach. While the bible Jesus said to his disciple Let the children come don’t hinder them for theirs is the Kingdom. (Matthew 19:14) Every parent individually is responsible for there own kids how they want to set them off and how they want them to grow up and be.

This is my part.

God bless you.

With loving regards,

Shaina Li Margaritha-Domitilia