Our family, well my husband and I have been going around and around the mountain for ever and a day. I feel at times that we are literally going to spend 40 years in the desert. I believe that we are obviously not hearing God's word clearly and we keeping trying in our own strength to deal with all our problems. Because of our financial challenges we are always stealing from Paul to pay Peter and with 2 children we always have a never ending list of needs. God has blessed me with a good paying job, and we have a number of Christians in the company that get together every Wed morning to pray.

As a woman, and we do want to look pretty and have more maintenance then our husbands do, I am always "wanting", I find myself a bit consumed at times with our families needs and not been able to meet them. I try not to be envious of more fortunate friends etc, but it is hard. We do live in a very worldly and materialistic world and it is hard at times not to want pretty things. We live in a 2 bedroom cottage at the back of someones house. 2 years ago we lived (4 of us)in a one room hotel room - 1 star. So we are so grateful for our home, we can afford it on my salary and daily God supplies our daily needs, puts food on the table and blesses us faithfully.

My question is (sorry I was so long winded), Is is wrong for me to want so much, sometimes they are real needs and then also desire/wants. Am I conforming to the worldly materialistic desire, or because we do lack in a number of areas. I have entered just about every car competition there is, bec our car is not even road worthy, tires are smooth, licence has expired and really needs a service, but we don't even have the funds to attend to it. I pray everytime we drive that we will be protected in the car and that we won't be stopped by the traffic authorities. I know we are breaking the law. God has told us to be content, and for a while I struggled with that, but I am bec my whole family serves God, we have a home, never go hungry and have clothes and we are happy. God has healed my marriage. But there is always a BUT.......

Please can you help me but this in perspective, I know that our reward will be eternal and this is all just temporary, BUT.........

Thank you
Venessa
Sunny Umhlanga Rocks, Durban - South Africa

Venessa,

First,I thank God for your courage and your request for help. As it says in the Bible," Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by Prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:6-7

I myself go through times where I think I need more than what I already have which is all given from God anyway. I ask myself why I am in financial debt? Then God shows me people that have nothing and live homeless, under bridges or on the street. Then I know its time for me to get on my knees and Pray to God and ask him for guidence and obedience. I also feel if I want too much will this cause problems with paying our bills, tithing to God our causing marriage problems than we need to Seek ye first for all the answers.

The Bible also says: " And my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:19

As you know he has supplied us with his Grace, Love and Mercy and He will never forsake us. His Love and kindness surpasses all of my earthly needs.

Isaiah 55:2
Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat wat is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.....



May the Lord continue to Bless you, with his Grace and mercy and continued good health. May He continue to minister to you and your husbands heart that all things that you receive; give God all praise and glory!!!

God Bless your Family!!!!!

John Trevino

[This message was edited by JOHN TREVINO on January 15, 2003 at 10:17 AM.]

It is a good thing that you are seeking to know from God the truth and know if you are doing anything wrong and what may be hindering you in any way. God in his word tells us to seek first his kingdom and then all these things will be added to us. God can not lie and so you should saturate yourself with His word then the more you do that, the more faith will come and the more you are having faith the more will the answers manifest. Let the joy of the lord be your strength. Always thank and praise God for what he has done, give him all the glory and he will bless you more. He will never leave or forsake you. Perhaps you are doing all that and more in which case, " Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day-- and having done all, stand." ( Ephesians 6: 12-14 ) Read the whole chapter. Also reading the whole chapter of Psalm 34 will help you. I will pray for God's leading and that He delivers you from all your troubles and gives you patience, hope and strong faith..

[This message was edited by Pax on January 15, 2003 at 11:23 AM.]

Thank you John and Pax

Thank you both for being a vessel that God can use to speak through. I will definitely go through the readings you quoted.

I actually feel quite emotional at the moment.

I sometimes feel that bec of how I'm feeling, I am been ungrateful, bec God has taken care of my family so amazingly well. We have not known in the morning what we will have for dinner, and Simon catches fish, crayfish and is able to sell it or we have lovely fresh fish for dinner, he has never forsaken us and he even takes care of my toiletry needs as well. He totally overwhelms me daily, and I know that he does understand and he reassures me in so many different ways, with the message at GDW and even my children - faith like a child, they continually remind me to pray and that God will alway answer us.

This will definitely be a great help to me to remain focused and continue to walk in this footsteps and to stay in the word. I can't wait to get home and go into my closest and be still before God.

Thank you for your caring.
Psalm 121 v 7-8 "The Lord will keep you from all hare, he will watch over your life. The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore." God Bless

Your sister in Christ
Venessa

Venessa:
I 'feel' your pain, truly! I have asked myself those same questions...and have asked God, too...when I get like that, I do thank God for everything I have now...it is amazing, I have been out of work for 8+ months and it is amazing what I am spending now as opposed to then...and how I can get by on so little and be happy.....I am not trying to give pat answers because I truly know what you are saying and have felt it...and I am sure those days will come again....
but I have prayed the following prayer and pray it for you, Venessa!
Father, I pray that Venessa will 'hate' the things of this world that are in disguise to deceive and trap her. That she will see the deceitfulness of all that is wanting to bring her down and tell her she will be happy with it, when all it will do is give her a 'lust' for more. I pray that you will indeed meet those needs and requirements that they have especially if it does not meet up against the standards of the law of the country. I pray that whatever you give her that it will not become a possession but rather that she will honor it as stewardship. That as they are faithful in little, that you will increase it all the more (for your kingdoms sake)...I pray that she will be exceedingly joyful and rich in her spiritual walk and that her hunger and thirst will be for that which will not rust nor be destroyed and that as she thirsts for righteousness, she will be filled...meet all their physical needs and requirements...help her husband find gainful employment and may this be a testimony to others and to themselves ..... and others that nothing is impossible with GOD! Help us not to ask to 'spend it on our own pleasures....'
In Jesus name, Amen!

Dear Lori

Thank you so much for your prayer and support. It is really powerful.

I feel so relieved that what I was feeling was not just me desiring more and more rather than having a grateful heart because God is just so good and has helped my family over this time. So having someone really understanding my feeling and anxiety and sharing from their heart is so special to me. THANK YOU.

T2 shared something that is so profound for me and I'd like to share it with you Lori, (my prayer request for work for my husband), she said "to remember to share out of our poverty, and to know the joy of sharing out of my need." We do actually do that, but I never really gave it much thought. I remembered the scripture of the widow giving her last coin, and this has made such an impact on me. The share I feel does not only have to be physical, but sharing a prayer, support/advice for others in the same situation. This is what I've been doing, and sharing with those where I feel the Lord wants me to.

In our morning pray meeting at work I share with everyone has this message board and the sharing and praying and uplifting of each other is so WOW for me. In this last 3 weeks or so I have really grown so much in faith and touched by the geniune caring of everyone.

Your words of prayer..."I pray that she will be exceedingly joyful (and I totally feel like bursting with joy)wich will not rust nor be destroyed and that as she thirts for righteousness, she will be filled..." Well, I have taken a step of boldness and decided to join the Alpha Course that our church is running, and I will be going on my own as hubby said he will babysit.

So Thank you once again. I just look forward each day to see what has been added to the message board, and to see how God actually uses people to speak to me, so acurately time and time again. He is awesome.

God Bless Lori and you and your husband will be in my prayers to and as we uplift each other in pray, we will overcome this and we will both have such a wonderful testimony to give. Praise God.

Lastly, this was today's daily reading from CQdaily - Rocky Henriques - "Worship is giving God the best that he has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to himas a love gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to him in a deliberate act of worship. If you hoard it for yourself, it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as manna did when it was hoarded. God will never allow you to keep a spiritual blessing completely for yourself. It must be given back to him so that he can make it a blessing to others."

God Bless, and I look forward to sharing my blessings with you and all very soon.

GOD IS GREAT.............

Venessa

Dear Venessa:
Praise God! I just want to be able to encourage others....it is a great thing to be able to identify with others and tell them so because it really means something then.....the Bible tells us to comfort one another and encourage one another...I am glad for this time of suffering so that I could help someone else...I truly want to be held less captive by this world...and truly committed to His arms...my prayer life has changed so much during this time and I pray 'desperately' that my life will change and that those doors where I used to spend my time spiritually (just rot) will be forever closed....it is a daily struggle but I pray that He will help me get the victory....a job, He can give me and with much ease but the journey to become like Him "I" have to cooperate to get there...sometimes I think, we think, life is hard or life in Christ is hard but I think it is just our hearts that are hard and that's why it seems hard...we don't want to give everything up to find that "His yoke is easy and His burden light".....
Venessa, let's continue to pray for one another...I am so blessed by your encouragement and 'really' sense your newfound awareness and place in Christ in your messages....
Father, I pray that the work you began in Venessa will be completed til the day of Jesus Christ....I pray that she will be blessed with all the spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus..." I pray that soon she will give no thought for her life, what she shall eat, drink or clothe herself with...but that she shall be caught up in seeking the kingdom and its righteousness.' That she will find true treasure in deed as she seeks for it with all her heart...".....In Jesus Name...
Pls. continue to pray for me in the same manner and that God will give me the peace to know He will and is taking care of my physical needs...and for my hubby as well...I will pray for yours....
Be blessed in Africa...(wow) We are one in the Spirit....miles and miles apart!
Lori

Dear Lori
I thank our Father for you, for your love for Jesus and being obedient to his word. He says, and I can't say exactly what the scripture is but it goes something like this: and above all if you do not have love, your deeds are worthless. Everything we do, we need to do in LOVE. I must say that I feel your love, and your caring.

I too share in your desire to be held less captive by this world and to be committed to Jesus wholeheartedly and I do want my life to change. My desires to continue with my normally wordly habits have started to change, I want to renew my mind continually, and I have stopped watching my soapies, Days of our Lives and Bold and Beautiful, instead of being stuck in front of the TV I have been spending this with my children, so that we have good quality time together, finish homework, read stories etc.

I have changed from the slump that I found myself in towards the end of last year, and I can honestly say that all the prayer and encouragement that I have been receiving here has helped - I am so full of joy and my faith and total trust in God is unbelieveable.

James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the tesing of your faith develops perseverance. As both you and I and everyone faces trails, we know that we need to continue with joy and that we are developing perserverance, and even in that situation give him glory. I started off with a prayer request for help, I was totally wiped out and felt spiritually dead, and before I could blink I was uplifting others, praying for others myself. I get overwhelmed when I need to pray in a group, and to suddenly have the boldness to write out a prayer that can be read by so many people etc well, Our Father promised never to leave us, and boy he hasn't and he gives a spirit of boldness.

In I Corinthians 1:31 "Therefore it is written, Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." This is what I want to do, BOAST IN THE LORD.

Father God I thank you for Lori, that she is so special to you, and that you have a perfect plan for her and her husband. I pray that as she develops her relationship with you that you will make your will know to her. Holy Spirit I pray that you will stir up her spirit man and that you will keep her path straight and protect her from all harm and the firey darts of the devil. In her situation I pray that you will supply her daily bread, meet all her needs and enable her to overcome any debit that she has, until she is debit free. Guide her that she will use her gifts to serve you and further your kingdom. Bless her marriage Father that she will be a Godly wife and home maker(Proverbs 31)and submit to her husband as the head of their home. Guide his footsteps Father and give him your peace and let him know that you are next to him and will never leave him. You word says in 1 Peter 3:13 The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and His ears are open to their prayer, hear their prays and thank you as you answer each pray and give them the desires of their heart, I pray this in Jesus name.

Lori, read Jeremiah 17 vs 7-8 and take this literally especially in your situation, that you and your hubby will be like a tree planted near a stream, and that no matter what the circumstances are above the soil, heat, drought, your leaves will always be green and you both will never fail to bear fruit.

Be Blessed my Friend and although we may never meet here on earth, we will one day meet and sing and praise God with a host of heavenly angels, isn't that amazing.........
THE BEST IS YET TO BE...........

God Bless
Venessa

Thanks, Venessa....I will continue to pray for you, especially for your spiritual growth, for spirit led prayer and your and your family's purpose in the Kingdom.....Ephesians 1: 15-23
Be blessed.....

God bless Vanessa and Lori. May He bless them exceedingly abundantly beyond measure. Thank you God for their growing in the knowledge and wisdom of your grace and word.

Thank you Pax.

Hi Lori, how are you doing. Some good news, Simon has been called by an employment agency that he had seen ages ago and they have a position available for him in the building trade with a company car, praise the Lord. They will let him know on Monday about a time for the interview. Please say your prayers that this job will be for Simon.

God bless and enjoy the week-end
Venessa

Venessa, I have been thinking about you...wondering how things were going....I was telling my other prayer partner (here) about you...I am so thrilled for Simon! and for all of you.....I am still seeking the Lord....I pray for the condition of my heart as I see how in need I am of Him....I truly want to be transformed and to hide in Him and not be 'all out there'....what dangers lie outside His protection and not walking with Him...

Father, we thank you so much for opening up an opportunity for Simon but most importantly that you hear us. I pray that this family would be transformed by the power of your might. That in all the ways you bless them that they would be a blessing to others. That they would consider nothing that they have as their own but that they would ask how they should regard it according to Your Perfect Will. That they would be committed anew each day to your calling and purpose in life for the sake of the Kingdom....and the sake of the Kingdom only. In Jesus Name...
Be blessed, Venessa!

Prayers for Simon that he gets the job to God's glory.

Dear Lori and Pax

Thank you both sooooooooooooo much for your prayers . You both have blessed me so much.

We are still waiting for the interview to be set up, will let you know soon.

Be Blessed
Venessa

I am praying for you also. There's one suggestion I would like to make. I don't know if you and your husband tithe your income, but I once was deeply in debt. We owed $30,000 plus a 2 mortgages when I began to tithe. I found that I had just as much to spend when I tithed as when I didn't. But now a decade later, we are out of debt and have a beautiful home. I continue to tithe today in praise for all He had given me and to share with others. God does not lie. He makes promises to those who put Him first by giving tithes and offerings and acknowledging that He has first place in their lives. In Malachi 3:10, He says He will "open the windows of heaven" for us and we are to "prove," or test Him to see that He will indeed do just that.

God bless you,

Thank you Karin for your suggestion. No I do not tithe. I did once, and I battle every month, because there is just no way that I can see how we will manage. I have heard sermons, read abouth tithing and heard wonderful testimonies, but it does not make practical sense to me. Bec we live on only my salary, we are always short, and what my husband gets from work here and there is literally for food. I keep saying that maybe next month I will and never do.
God has been speaking to me about this often, yet I am cannot get myself to tithe.

It is just amazing to me that you suggest tithing, God works in mysterious ways. Please pray for me that I will take a stand in faith and tithe this month.
Thank you
Venessa

I know exactly how you feel. I've been there myself. I had an even harder situation because my husband was not a Christian at the time we had so much debt, and I had to fight with him every time I wrote a check for the Lord's work. But God shows us how He makes the weak to be strong, and He likes to reward our faith. Give Him a chance. You'll have a beautiful testimony to give one day. He promises!!!!

Thank you Karin, your advice and encouragement means a lot, and I know that I have not been listening to what the Lord has been saying to me, and this step of faithfulness is properly what will lead me out of the desert.

Thank you again
God Bless
Venessa

Dear Vanessa

I have read your story with great interest and fascination. How did the interview for Simon go? It has been a while and you have been quiet.

Just some food for thought. You said initially that you are filling in so many competitions, hoping to win a lovely new car. But tell me something, if you do win a new car, how will you be able to afford to maintain it if you can't maintain your old car at the moment? Servicing costs on the latest cars are enormous.

I don't believe in filling in competitions because I believe that it distracts our hope and attention from Jesus, our Provider. We ask the Lord to help us but we are hoping in the back of our minds for that windfall of winning a new car. That is not trusting in Him, is it. Remember what the Bible says about doubting while we pray, then we won't recieve what we have asked for. We will receive if we ask according to His will.

I have been employed for 7 yrs now in the same job. I was young and stupid when I started and so spent a lot of money on, well, unnecessary things. Got myself into serious debt (for me it is/was) and my wife and I are now still carrying the load because of my irresponsibility then. It has been a slow process but our financial situation has improved since a few years ago. During the time before I got married, there were various times where the Lord provided for me in some awesome, but sometimes hurtful ways (where He initially disciplined me).

We both tithe, not quite 10% yet, but that is our aim, at least. And we take our tithe out of our salaries as soon as we can. Remember that, tithing is to be from our 1st fruits. Not as an after thought at the end of the month when a few cents are left.

How is your tithing going - have you started? Jesus looks at our heart when we give, not the amount. Our attitude is of greatest importance.

I hope that you and your family are well and blessed.

Take care and God bless you.

In His love.

Anthony

PHP 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

PHP 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

[This message was edited by Anthony on August 04, 2003 at 02:00 AM.]

Hi Anthony

Thank you for your interest. No Simon did not get the job.

Since then he has been doing a lot of fishing. He free lances as a skipper for a dolphin viewing operation and fishes as well.

We have sent his CV off to another company, and are still waiting to hear from them. A friend has given gave him a contact of someone who is wanting to renovate his home - I posted a note under General Prayer Requests - "Work opportunity for my husband.

We are trusting God for work for Simon.

With regard to tithing, no I still have not started. I am under such conviction each month, and my logic just takes over. My salary pays for all the main things, rent, policies, school fees, medical etc, etc, and then Simon supplements that with his fishing, Handy Man work etc towards food and day to day costs.

It is so funny, that I see your note today, bec as I said I'm under real conviction regarding tithing. My best time of talking to God is in the shower in the morning, and just this morning I made a promise to tithe at the end of Aug, then I changed it and said "God I will really try."

So please pray for me that I will take a step of faith and pay my tithe straight away and not try and reason my way out of it as I do each month saying, how will I manage to pay for everything.

Praise God, God Bless
Venessa

Praise and glory to God!

You and your family are lifted up in my prayers.

I am fairly new to the message board, yet I have read your postings in earnest.

You are a light and a wellspring in the Lord. God is convicting you to TRUST HIM. Don't just step lightly, take a LEAP of FAITH! His Word promises to provide all of our needs, but He also gave us free will. When you don't trust Him with your whole heart, you are tying His hands (so to speak), limiting His ability to move in your life. In essence, you are believing in your money more than you are believing in His power.

I have been unemployed since April, 2000 yet I have a roof over my head, food in the refrigerator, utilities, transportation ~ the list goes on and on ~ by the grace of God alone! His mercies ARE new every morning!

You said our Father has been speaking to your heart, convicting you: trust Him at His Word. Then you will see the mountains move. He will never leave you or forsake you! Read Proverbs 3.5, 6 and Luke 6.38: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with what measure you use, it will be measured to you.

You have wonderful blessings now. God wants you also to have abundance. Be led by the Spirit.

Yours in Christ, teredot

I am of the body of Christ. Satan has no power over me for I overcome evil with good.

Dear Teredot

Thank you for your encouragement and prayers.

God has been so good to my family and blessed us incredibly.

We have had amazing relationship healing in my family, with my mother, brothers and sister. My sister and her husband got saved, my brother has a beautiful Godly wife. God has healed all the wounds and hurts that happen in families. We are all serving God, Amen.

Simon still does not have permanent work. He is waiting for a contract to be confirmed and then will be going to Zambia for 3-4wks to erect a roof on a shopping centre. I pray that God's will be done here!!!!

In the meantime our assistant pastor has asked Simon to do a "shopping list" of maintenance at the church, this is about 4-5wks work. They are also looking at employing a maintenance manager at the church sometime in the future. Praise God that this work has also come at the perfect time. Simon will also be working under perfect conditions, at our church, and I am trusting that during this time, Simon will re-establish his relationship with God, and put his faith back God's hands. With all the set backs he has faced, he has turned from God. God is going to turn him upside down and inside out, and he will have a Damascus Road experience as was prophesied over him. Amen!!!!!

We are in the process of buying a car, and we were R1500.00 short, with this work we are now able to make us the shortfall and get our "new" used old car, and pay off debit.

God is so God, and even when I doubt and become stressed at our situation, he is still so tender and caring and gives me a word, and if I don't take notice the first time, well he gives it to me over and over again, from different people etc until I take notice. He has never left me and we have never gone without our daily needs been met. He is so thoughtful that he even makes sure I am able to have my haircut, and replace my perfume and face creams, so that I can still feel good and look good, you know a woman thing.

So thanks again, and to everone that has prayed for me and my family, he answers our prayers and he is an awesome God that we serve.

God Bless

Venessa

Vanessa, I am so glad to hear how the Lord is healing and has healed you and your family. Continue praising and thanking Him for that, and continue walking in obedience with Him. Be vigilant though because Satan will try and attack you to make you doubt God again.

Holy Spirit, continue making Vanessa sensitive to your leading that she may continue in her praises to You, no matter what the circumstances.

The Lord bless you and your family, Vanessa.

Anthony

PHP 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

PHP 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Hi Vanessa,

Saw and have been reading your posts and am interested in how it is going with u, whether Simon has work or not, whether u started to tithe and have broken through your belief that was preventing u?

love and blessings in the Lord,

Serenity