It's OK to enjoy life!

What a lovely meeting in the park! And a great rich message to go with it inspired by Joyce Meyer. 

For our 13th meeting, we began by defining the term enjoyment, which explains:

'Enjoyment is the fuel we need to reach the finish line of an endeavour with a good attitude."

In the book of Ecclesiastes it says:

Ecclesiastes 2:24The Message (MSG)

24-26 The best you can do with your life is have a good time and get by the best you can. The way I see it, that’s it—divine fate. Whether we feast or fast, it’s up to God. 

We need to understand that these pleasures come from God and therefore it is so important and something we should constantly lock into our minds during our Christian walk. Why? There are different types of enjoyment. Before and during your journey you will realise what is and isn't of God. Examples, Harming your body with unsafe substances, giving into peer pressure and surrounding yourself with the wrong people (the girls had A LOT to say about this!)

One thing we fail to recognise due to human nature is that every journey or road to success is just as important as the achievement itself. TD Jakes spoke such rich and powerful points about this (here from about 1:30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3_gzlt2yO4)

We need to learn to lighten up and take time to enjoy the journey! You are a conquerer! The book of John explains this clearly: 

John 16:33English Standard Version (ESV)

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Another interesting point we picked up from this verse was the word, WORLD. Many Christians mention especially in testimonies that they were "once in the world", and in this meeting, the ladies discussed several definitions of how to explain the world. We concluded that the world is a place we exist in but don't  spiritually invest in. Meaning, we have the light of Christ and can fearlessly overcome any obstacles coming to us in this world i.e. temptation, lying, being deceitful, not living our God-given purpose.

I hope this makes sense to those reading! :)

Ambassador and sister Eti also made a brilliant point about the fact that we should never fear to fulfil the potential and plans that God has set forward for us. Eti said that the richest place in the world is the GRAVEYARD - due to the unfulfilled potential, due to the people that chose not to go forth, pursue, and enjoy their goals. Deep!

Don't let society pressure you, let the Bible inspire you! Life SHOULD be enjoyed! There isn't an A-Z on how to be, think and feel. God has created you for a purpose. Enjoy your purpose.

Thank you for reading! Our meetings are open to ALL ladies curious about several topics discussed in the Bible and our curiosities about Jesus and God! We meet every fortnight in cafe's based all over Central London and the meetings are awesome :)

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God bless you xxx

Being a light and a lampshade (meeting no.12)

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. 

(Matthew 5:14-16 MSG)

A lot of us crave for God to help us in many areas. We need to start being affective where we are whilst being hungry for our expansion

It all starts from within!

Daniel 2:22New International Version (NIV)

22 

He reveals deep and hidden things;

he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.In order to accomplish, make sure you are doing God"s good will

How many people's lives have you influenced?

You have important things to do with your life, don't waste it!

Be a light and source of hope to someone

God has charged you to be a light of biblical change

Because of your conscious, someone is going through mental slavery

Be active in the things God has called you to be 

Never let the fear of public opinion be the captive of your life 

Your light should speak for itself

1 John 1:5

God doesn't use people that don't have anything to offer

You have been hand picked by this generation 

There are things in you that this generation has been hoping for

As you progress in the light, you will play as an instrument to someone else's life

So simply put yet so so powerful. Day by day we encounter several other people that we can simply touch with our light. Praying that God uses you as a light unto others and that you may never lack!

Amen.

Ladies Who Fellowship In The City

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Faith and The Conservative Party

A sister wrote this morning:

Exodus 7-9 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+7-9) really touched me today. In it I noticed two things. The first when God afflicted Egypt because of the hardness of Pharaoh's heart the bible said that it did not come upon the children of Israel. Secondly God said that He rose Pharaoh for a time like this, so that Gods power will be known throughout the earth.

My point is this, it's bugged me that so many believers have been scared of new Government and their policies. Do you not serve a God that cause affliction to happen around you and not reach your dwelling place? Has God not chosen the Conservatives for a time like this? The bible says that the fear of man is a snare but those who trust the Lord shall be protected.

Thank you for such fruitful words, Bose!

A huge, huge, HUGE part of the Christian walk is having FAITH. Faith is the cornerstone of all Christians. It is how the disciples were able to preach and change the world. They absolutely believed in God's promises as told to them by Jesus Christ. The disciples treated the good news of Jesus as truth even though most of these truths were either promises for the future or at odds with the material world around them

Hebrews 11:11 - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen

When Christians act out on their faith, it is the evidence of things not seen. Faith is the source of a Christian's strength and places them in God's plan for mankind. Through faith, Christians anticipate the future of God's promises and act in faith in their day-to-day activity knowing they are in God's plan.

So let me ask you this; where is your faith if you call yourself a believer and a Christian? It's quite saddening seeing people post such negative things regarding Conservative Party plans that haven't fully happened yet. "Britain is doomed forever" "You are sick if you have voted Tory" - hardly the words Christ would use, are they? Remember the power of The Lord and the fact that HE KNOWS what is going to happen decades, and even centuries from now. 

Rather than spitting out words of negativity, remember who you represent, what you believe in, and how you will give off that character. Pray before speaking such negativity and remember that faith without works is dead. There's one thing saying you have faith, but how have you shown faith to let that light of Christ shine onto others?

Trust and have faith!

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Intimate meeting number 11

It's been a little while since we've had an intimate meeting and the topic we picked and discussed went so perfectly with the day!

The Bible story we studied and discussed was The Samaritan woman at the well with Jesus

Amazing preaching of this story by Robert Madu: 

Read from John 4: 1-30.

Let's quickly summarise this story:

1) Jesus had been travelling far and was tired, so took some rest at a well in Samaria whilst his disciples went to buy food. This well was usually a place where women of Samaria would go to draw water. 

2) A Samaritan woman came to draw water. By speaking to this woman, Jesus broke 3 Jewish customs; a) he spoke to a woman b) she was a Samaritan woman* and c) he asked her to get him a drink of water, which would have made him ceremonially unclean from using her cup.

3) Jesus asking the woman for water at the well shocked her. Jesus then went onto say that He could give her living water so that she would never thirst again. Jesus used the words living water to refer to eternal life, the gift that would satisfy her soul's desire only available through him. The Samaritan woman became immediately defensive, highlighting the fact that He a Jew, dared to ask her for water.

4) Although they had never met before, Jesus revealed that he knew she had had five husbands and was now living with a man who was not her husband. Jesus now had her attention! As they talked about their two views on worship, the woman voiced her faith that Messiah was coming. Jesus answered, "I who speak to you am he." (John 4:26, ESV)

------------PAUSE------------

Let's discuss! (As we did in the meeting)

- This woman didn't have a clear vision when meeting Jesus as her perspective was deluded by past experiences. She probably thought that Jesus was another man trying to make a pass at her, since only women gathered at that well.

- Let's do the math. She had 5 husbands and lives with a man she's not married to. Jesus was the 7th man she met. What does number 7 mean? Completion, divine perfection, and something that is not finished. *goosebumps*!

- We must stop prejudging situations based on past experiences. This will limit your growth with God!

- What well are you drinking from? EVERYONE gets thirsty but the real question is; how are you going to quench your thirst? Your looks? Social status? Relationships without purpose? There is a level of fulfilment you may get from these - but for how long?

5) The woman then believed in Christ and spread the word! Excited by what the woman told them, the Samaritans came from Sychar and begged Jesus to stay with them. So Jesus stayed two days, teaching the Samaritan people about the Kingdom of God. When he left, the people told the woman, "... we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world." (John 4:42, ESV)

By reaching out to the Samaritans, Jesus showed that his mission was to the entire earth, not just the Jews. In the book of Acts, after Jesus' ascension into heaven, his apostles carried on his work in Samaria and to the Gentile world.

We need to start drinking from the well that will never run dry!

YOU are the water carrier in your generation.

Questions to pray about:

Can you depend less on the things of the world and more of God?

How will you train yourself to not let your past delude your perspective of the present or future?

How can I learn to strengthen my growth with God?

Our human tendency is to judge others because of stereotypes, customs or prejudices. Jesus treats people as individuals, accepting them with love and compassion. Do you dismiss certain people as lost causes, or do you see them as valuable in their own right, worthy of knowing about the Gospel?

Such a rich meeting with so much food for thought! I don't think any of us want to have the mindset of the woman from the well. We want to meet Jesus with a clear mind and heart. Let us walk more in faith and not by sight.

God bless fellowship!

#LadiesWhoFellowshipInTheCity

#LWFITC

*

Why were Samaritans despised by Jews?

Because of their defective devotion to Judaism and their partly pagan ancestry, the Samaritans were despised by ordinary Jews. Because the Samaritans were sometimes hostile, and also the fact that a Jew believed that he could become contaminated by passing through Samaritan territory, Jews who were traveling from Judea to Galilee or vice versa would cross over the Jordan river and avoid Samaria by going through Transjordan, and cross back over the river again once they had reached their destination.