Lenten thoughts 1-An ever present help

Do you really know how present our God is?
How much he cares for every little detail concerning you?

Can you allow Him to reach you;
And bring to you riches in character?
Things of eternal value that will never perish ?

What will you change?
How will you allow your will to choose something different?

Will you let God finish His work: 
Of Renewal in you?
Will you?

Or will you hold fast
to what must go,
what must perish, 
what must die?

So that the righteousness of God,
Which He has already bought for you,
Will be allowed to spring up and live? 

Spread abroad mightily within me Lord
A new heart, a new perspective 
A changed nature that I may embrace my path with joy

So that the utmost glory is given to your name Jesus!
Our heaven sent ace.

Lara Cookey

01 March 2017

Change

The word CHANGE has been on my mind lately , and how much I need to be open to change in order to align with heaven's wish for me. So I was inspired to draw this image and write my prayer down. I pray this energizes someone to make a change they have been grappling with. Amen

But I have the mind of Christ

God is love 1John 4:16

We do not realize how much God loves us and is actually with us, so when pain comes, we feel alone and don't realize His loving arms are there all the time. My turning point was realizing that in the depths of my worst challenges God was there. He told me very clearly that He sees everything I suffer, and that I should rest in Him. When your maker tells you that 'eternity cannot contain the magnitude of the love I have for you Lara' . All bets are off, no questions asked, I received the knowledge of God's love as simply as that. Thereafter , even to the threat of my very life, I could be calm and confident and my fear and panic turned into perseverance  as God gave me grace to endure. 

We can endure an infinite amount of pain while resting in God, because His power is endless and mighty and we actually have it within us already. It is in our spiritual DNA. We are made in His image. 

Capsule of Joy

Ephesians 1:3-14 is one powerful dialogue which makes my heart glad every time I read it. The love of God is encapsulated in it so vibrantly, and I receive it with newness every single time.

As I read it again today, I hear a rhythm in the back ground that is unique. Not quite a tune but something like a cross between rap and spoken word style delivery. The pace and beat resonates with me and I feel joyful. 

Here is my list of key words which express the content in summary as it speaks to me. 

Blessing

Chosen

Redemption

Forgiveness

Deposit guarantee

Revealed / made known 

Burnished Gold

It is just 6am in the morning and I can see a very bright sun shining behind, and through my curtains. The colour it has given the fabric is like burnished gold. Right before my eyes, the cloth has taken  on a new quality , like shimmering gold dust. It's metallic beauty catching the light in different directions. This cloth has no such luster of its own but has taken on a certain iridescent quality from the sun.

In the same way, we are to take on the light of our Heavenly Father. The true and perfect light. We do not have it of our own, but when we are in Him, we take on   His qualities and we glint and shimmer and reflect God's glory. We display the beauty of the awesome, enigmatic power of God .  

Proverbs 4:18 

18The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,

shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

I should know better

I should be secure in your love Lord

Not need to need all these external inputs

I should know your love so keenly

I am confident of it and stand firm

I should know that your love is not external

But dwells within me via your Spirit

I should be tuned to your teachings

And your word so much that

I know that I know that I know

The full extent of your love for me

The little I know and am able to perceive

In my limited thinking and perceptions 

Humbles me totally and sometimes I am afraid

That I am just not worth it

But that is what is so unique about you Lord

That the truth is that I am not worth it

But you have loved me anyway!

I should know better!

This is why I am so grateful for your word 

Because I can renew my mind daily

I can re connect daily and be in your full truth

And know by discernment in my spirit

What is true according to you and what is not 

It is so hard to keep up, it is a constant challenge

But your love is like that, inspite of the challenges 

I can just rest , and just be, I can just relax in you

It is actually easier than it looks

I should know better

Because you are patient 

You are faithful

At the brink-Renewal

Hold your breath

Be still

And pick your steps

Gingerly, quietly

Calm your flailing arms down

Slow, slow, tread gently 

Catch heavy exhalation 

Suspend belief and thought and word

Silence

Pin drop silence

Silence so quite

It is a loud noise

Stop!

Your heart beating fast

Gasp and wait

Wait, not too fast

Wait, and wait again

You are at the brink you know

Of something new

Something is going to happen

And it is the good stuff 

No, no, no, still hold in

Keep your excitement down

Learn to contain it

Because

It will blow your mind

Lara Cookey

01 January 2017

Power packed nugget for successful life Mathew 7:7-8

This is a power packed nugget for successful life 

Matthew 7:7-8 | NIV

7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 

8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened

Mathew 7:7-8 is a self actualization statement that applies to every challenge I may ever face in life, or any desire I may have to improve or change status. Let's break it down.

The ASKING

This requires articulating what I want

The SEEKING

This is the act of looking out for what you have identified and asked for 

The KNOCKING

Having found and identified what i want , I am now prepared, so when I  Knock on the door of opportunity, it will be opened.

The summary of this is tied up in the well known maxim 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained' 

Tough love - James 1:12

James 1:12 | NIV

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

In our human interactions, particularly as parents, we recognise the need to give 'tough love.' This kind of love as stated here in this scripture shows us that the template of  'tough love' comes from heaven. 

I learn from this word in the book of James that perseverance under trial is an act of love towards God. The concept of showing love to mankind through perseverance has been shown by God himself . This is clearly demonstrated in how Jesus persevered under all manner of torture, excruciatingly painful scourging and endured crucifixion because 'God so LOVED the world ' 

The love that God showed mankind, was also a means by which Jesus, through obedience, showed love to His father by enduring the cross. Therefore as believers we must follow in Jesus 's  footsteps and embrace obedience as a vital element in our showing love towards God.

Jesus obeyed his father in spite of the great pain he bore in his physical body and as well the emotional and psychological trauma of torture. On our part, we are to obey whatever aspects of the directives given to us, under grace, brought to us through Jesus's suffering. 

In every day practical terms, this means that as much as we seek God's face to lift our trials off us, we must also seek 'grace to endure'. Grace to endure is the bedrock of hope which keeps us focused upward towards heaven. This is a high yield investment which multiplies our faith. So we see here the beauty of God's work in us, taking us through our challenges, to giving and knowing the love of God and ending up with ' a crown of life.' 

A prayer: 

Because I love you Lord, may I receive grace to endure in abundant measure as I pass through the vicissitudes of life, and receive the blessing of the 'crown of life' which has been promised to those who persevere. Help me to shift my focus ever upwards to follow and embrace fully, what you would have me withstand. May I be teachable through every manner of difficulty, so that grace may abound richly in me.

Amen 

Gratitude- Just praising you in the utmost height

Lord I am so grateful

For one more time of confirmation of healing

You are marvellous Lord 

And my heart leaps for joy

Could I ever thank you enough

Or show the heights of my praise ?

For you are faithful 

And I count you reliable

I say it again and again

Your miracles are as endless

As your love is great

Awesome, wonderful, majestic and powerful

You show yourself mighty and incredible 

I am singing, and dancing, and bowing low

Just worshipping you

Just praising you in the utmost height 

Be still... there will be sunshine after the rain

This is what was laid on my heart to sketch this morning.

I was just laying my many anxieties before the Lord's feet, and this image was pressed strongly on my mind. So I have drawn it because I believe that this is what He said in response.

I am deeply comforted and encouraged. 

I have renewed hope.

I pray this for you too.

Efena Otobo- Inspiring victory against all odds and a beautiful heart of gratitude

Dear readers,

I could not resist sharing this article written by my friend's daughter Efena Otobo who sustained a life changing spinal chord injury over a year ago.

She and her mother have inspired me no end. You can click on the link below or read the copied and re posted version here.

I am so grateful for all God has done and is doing in the lives of Efena, Alero and their family.

Have you got a reason to share your gratitude? Do share and inspire and encourage others as Efena has.

Enjoy!

http://www.itsmilkandhoney.com/feature-season-of-thanksgiving/

The word “gratitude” is often associated with the spirit of Thanksgiving; it is synonymous with a season known for its generosity and benevolence. Whether you are in the loving presence of family or friends, or even happy strangers, learning to appreciate one’s blessings in life should not merely be restricted to a few hours of satisfaction after gorging on Thanksgiving turkey and all the fixings. Having the humility to express thankfulness must be embodied in a person’s words, actions, attitude and approach to the zest of life.

God has enabled me and my wonderful mother to leave London, England to the shores of Carlsbad, California and the bustle of Atlanta primarily for rehabilitation after sustaining what the enemy wanted to be, a catastrophic spinal cord injury. Hydrotherapy has become a weekly pleasure in my physical therapy schedule at Shepherd Center, Atlanta, Georgia. Being immersed in the water gives me an overwhelming sense of serenity that is difficult to comprehend. Part of the aqua-based workout involves floating face-up while practicing the skills of an adaptive backstroke. Whilst swimming a couple of days before Thanksgiving, a deep feeling of gratefulness shook me to the very core of my being; a stark realisation that without God’s incomparable and incomprehensible love, strength, support and provision, I would not have progressed to this point on the personal journey towards complete physical, spritual and mental healing and restoration.

The only memories that echoed throughout my mind at that moment, were the joyful experiences of the past twelve months. a far cry from the agony of the seven and a half hour surgery last November 2014, the second of its kind. The first surgery was in April 2014 – five days after the horrific car accident. Memories as diverse as marvelling at the beauty of Carlsbad’s natural endowment to the bouts of laughter while seated on the plush leather recliner in a luxury cinema at the Plaza Paseo Real; from basking in the sunshine in the perfect Beverly Hills weather to appreciating the inner workings of family-owned wineries in Napa Valley; from the child-like delight and wonder in the audience of the Shamu celebration show at Sea World.

To the camaraderie fostered between best friends while posing for a caricature artist; from experiencing the transformational presence of the Holy Sprit during evening worship at the Bethel Healing Conference in Redding.  Admiring the cutest selfies ever with the three most adorable Storm Troopers at Comic-Con, San Diego; from screaming my head off during the Supernatural panel for my two favourite actors, Jensen and Jared to teasing the loser in last place at the Project Walk staff relay race; from making three special new friends in the Hollywood entertainment business to dancing in a Nashville hotel ballroom dressed head-to-toe in BCBG; from clapping after an especially unique and brilliant performance of A Christmas Carol at the Woodruff Arts Center, Atlanta to gripping my sides on the couch, laughing, singing and resting in the arms of a childhood friend after consuming my first Thanksgiving meal at a home in Marietta, Georgia, the happiness crystallised in countless moments of time seems to be never-ending.

The enemy grossly miscalculated the good that has and will continue to come from being confined temporarily to a wheelchair. Often at times, I find tears welling up in my eyes due to the rush of emotions when I think of the plethora of blessings that are constantly being thrown my way. Words cannot fully encapslate the level of gratitude I feel towards my Heavenly Papa for all He hath done for me and my family. I urge you to let Thanksgiving go beyond a single day; whenever you receive a kind word or gesture from a fellow human being or are in the fortunate position of being a blessing to another, utter a word of gratitude to the One who provides; for without Him, we may as well not fully exist.

Thank you for reading and May you continue to be blessed with good fortune. Amen.

Written by Efena Otobo

My VFC sermon 15 Nov 2015- Faith, Works and Patience

Victoria Fellowship Church (VFC)

 International and Interdenominational

 Sunday Sermon 15th November 2015

 Quarter Theme: Living by Faith

 Topic: Faith, Works and Patience

Preacher - Lara Cookey

Assistant  Albert Okpala

 Texts: James 2: 14-26, Hebrews 10:35-39

 Memory Verse Hebrews 6:12 "We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised"

Sermon - 5 minutes delay before audio starts

https://youtu.be/jpXn8egcnJQ

Pray without ceasing

PRAYING WITHOUT CEASING  

 

I was studying Luke 18 this morning, the section that is written about 'a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.' Jesus spoke about how the persistent petition of the widow moved the judge to answer her and rule in her favour.

 

Jesus was speaking to the need for his disciples/children to do likewise. In a nutshell

-Be persistent

-Don't give up.

 

Paul spoke about continual prayer when speaking to the people of Collossae in 

1 Thessalonians 5:17

He said 

'pray continually'

 My thoughts went to considering what these two scriptures were saying about both persistence in prayer and being constantly in an attitude of prayer. What does this mean in the practical, day to day choices I make?

 

Below is a powerful commentary on the topic that I got from Internet research at 'gotquestions.org' 

 

For Christians, prayer should be like breathing. You do not have to think to breathe because the atmosphere exerts pressure on your lungs and essentially forces you to breathe. That is why it is more difficult to hold your breath than it is to breathe. Similarly, when we are born into the family of God, we enter into a spiritual atmosphere where God's presence and grace exert pressure, or influence, on our lives. Prayer is the normal response to that pressure. As believers, we have all entered the divine atmosphere to breathe the air of prayer.

Unfortunately, many believers hold their "spiritual breath" for long periods, thinking brief moments with God are sufficient to allow them to survive. But such restricting of their spiritual intake is caused by sinful desires. The fact is that every believer must be continually in the presence of God, constantly breathing in His truths, to be fully functional. (Emphasis mine)

It is easier for Christians to feel secure by presuming on—instead of depending on—God's grace. Too many believers become satisfied with physical blessings and have little desire for spiritual ones. When programs, methods, and money produce impressive results, there is an inclination to confuse human success with divine blessing. When that happens, passionate longing for God and yearning for His help will be missing. Continual, persistent, incessant prayer is an essential part of Christian living and flows out of humility and dependence on God.

 

After reading this, a song called 'this is the air I breath' started playing over and over again in my mind. It was such a soothing experience, that  I will adopt this song to remind me of constantly, continually being in an attitude of prayer. If you love hymns as I do, you may also like to adopt 'sometimes a light surprises a Christian when he sings' as your song to remind you to 'breath prayer'

Do you have a favourite song that ushers you into the Lord's presence? Do share.