Hebrews 10:38-39 inspired- To whom we belong

Hebrews 10:38-39
"But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back." 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

To whom we belong
Are those who have faith and are saved
We do not shrink back
We stand firm
We believe, we affirm
Every truth in your word
We stand firm
We believe that it is done
We do not shrink back
Because of the one
To whom we belong

Freedom in Christ Jesus

I took off the cloak of fear
It never fitted me well
It was itchy and misshapen
It had shards that hurt me
It hurt me more while taking it off
I got scratched and scuffed
And it struggled with my every move to cast it off
It wounded me with lies that have been told to me
Lies confirmed by my lived experience
Hanging blinkers over my eyes so i cannot see
That the circumstances may be true
But they are not permanent
They do not define who I am
For i am defined by something else
Something embedded in Hebrews eleven
Raise up the blinkers, cut them away
I fix my eyes on the consuming fire of God
Who will burn away all this junk to unrecognizable cinders


Lara Cookey
05 June 2015

Not today

We were sort of in lock down due to the fuel shortages. The weather was hot and humid, there was no electric power and therefore no running water in the taps in our block during the day. Our generator hours had been reduced in order to manage meagre generator fuel resources, and there was zero power from the national grid. I was unwell also, and all compounded to make me feel even worse. In order to distract myself from the circumstances, I decided to pull out a couple of canvases and did some painting. Something I have not done for over thirty years. It was cathartic. So therapeutic that i scarcely noticed the lack of the usual cooling air conditioning. I swerved the effects of the  resultant intolerable heat, by hydrating frequently, and focussing on delicate brush strokes. It was like a drug! 


There was no feeling sorry for myself as I shut down every negative thought , every desire to whinge and whine, and channelled my energies into painting my impressions of God's beautiful creation of flowers and plants. During the time i had brush in hand and acrylic paints  squished on to my palettes, i was just a conduit mirroring the strokes of the master artist that i have waxed lyrical about often on this forum.

I also wrote some poetry, ( or is it prose?), in any case, the title for this post was taken from the title of the poem. I hope you enjoy looking at my paintings as much as i enjoyed painting them. They were inspired by real photographs that i took on my trip to the Bahamas by cruiseship via Miami earlier in the year. One was taken on the Island of St Thomas and the other in St Croix.
Enjoy!

And here is the prose titled 'Not Today'

Not today

Will i dwell in the mind space of fear and pain

Not today

Will i make my shortcomings top of mind

Not today

Will i dwell in the shadow of all that is not well

Not today.

Today i will dwell in the secret place of the most high

Today i will abide under the shadow of the almighty

Today i will plug into all the powers of heaven

And own the facts that are true

That i am fearfully and wonderfully made

That i am the apple of God's eye

That i can do exceedingly abundantly more

That i am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus

Not today

Will the enemy get a foothold

Not today

Because i choose joy

Today i choose faith

Today i choose gratitude beyond measure

Today i choose flight on eagle's wings

Today i walk in the power of all of heaven

I adopt the gait of a conquering hero

Today i take courage

For i am victorious and not a victim

Lara Cookey

30 May 2015

Spectacular display!

 

I was woken this morning
First by the booming sounds of thunder
And then by a spectacular display
Dazzling lights and crackling sounds
God of might!
Displaying His splendour
Displaying His power
The beauty of His creation
Peals of thunder rent the heavens
The earth shuddered
Flashes of lightening
Mega volts of a trillion stars
Like a fire work display
Amped up to the hilt
Awesome, mighty God!
You pour down the rain like a silky garment
The clouds form a canopy
Over the earth's space
I watch in wonder at the power of your might
And the beauty of your creation
I bow, i worship
Lord you are like no other!


After a spectacular thunderstorm
6:30 am
23 May 2015

The master artist

There are so many things
That have been placed here for us 

That reveal the hand of a master artist
Beauty for our eyes to behold
Stunning sunsets and bright full moons
Graceful sea and land creatures
Awe inspiring mountains and hills
Cloudscapes that tell stories
Why have I got into this appreciative mode?
I looked at a floral arrangement
That I made for my coffee table
It reminded me of the rich hues of African batik

See for yourself

Do you not wonder

At the hand that speckled these leaves

That imbued them with varieties

Of shape and colour and form

Do you not wonder

At the majesty of the master artist?

GRATITUDE

GRATITUDE

You gave me a beautiful garment of praise today

And I thank you Lord for your faithfulness

You have answered me in a myriad ways

I cannot begin  to tell how much

I am strong within, and my faith is strengthened

Double portion giver

Restorer of locust eaten places

I bow, I worship you in gratitude.

Faith is a shield

Faith is a shield
That when produced within
Is formed by our thoughts and actions
In deep recesses of our minds
The true lie of our spirit
Faith is the GPS of spiritual perception
The locator and director of our path
Faith is thinking and doing opposites
To what we see, and feel and know
To circumstances, and things that generate fear
Faith is the parchment paper we write on
Faith is a catalyzer
That allows us to perceive
To access and to know His favour

Comfort from heaven

Like a warm blanket on a cold morning
Is comfort from heaven
Sent through those around
The grieving soul
Their words, their deeds
Speak the Father's heart
Which sees and knows all
Gratitude for lives
Now departed here
Being in a place of shadow
Grief overtaken and making sad
The spirit down
Questions asked with no answer coming
Sense of loss and despondency
Until the healing comes
From heaven, like a warm blanket

Bright is the light of Ameyo's life

Bright is the light of Ameyo's life
We give God glory
For the beauty of her legacy
She has walked the path
Our Saviour did
Saving countless lives
Laying down her own
We seek comfort
We are cut at heart
We are confused and sad
And so Ameyo has finished her race
I am so grateful to have known her
To have been the recipient of her care
Boldly she stood for what is right
An angel of light assigned to Nigeria
A demonstration of the Father's might

AGE OLD WISDOM

When did it ever matter what I think and feel and am?
When?
When will I move my recognition in line with what matters
I came to a place of knowing the revelations of many lies
And the new light stung my eyes like shards of glass

It gave me wisdom of my years and eyes that spoke volumes
Eyes that knew much, had heard much and had seen much
Babbling created white noise that drowned the central truth
Totally masking its importance and diminishing its potency

The white noise is for a time when filters have not yet been
They are the ones for later, advanced models, not yet, not now
It is a smoke screen and a tying down of reasons
Shackled to the ordinary, the explainable
Diminishing the magical, the miraculous
The heavy weight of age old wisdom comes to a new realisation
That what I thought I knew, I do not
And what I thought was certain, is not
Certainty is vain and illusory
She is what we hang on to for comfort
When we need to take courage and step on out
Step on out?

I like that, yes, I like that 

I should step on out
Now that is wisdom

The beauty of His grace, the power of His love

I have recently been playing around with 'Google sketch up', drawing up my designs of Play ground equipment, and decided to try out my doodles as well. They may look a bit child-like, but i am enjoying trying things out. I just had to draw something to express some of the ideas floating in my head. Afterwards, I looked at it, and thought, that looks so pedestrian! Well, never mind about pedestrian illustrations and my discoveries with a drawing programme, and on to the substantive ideas floating in my head........
. 
I was sitting in a chair inside my room with my back to the window, and I could hear a large bluebottle fly buzzing past my window at top speed, outside, on the other side of the mosquito mesh. I was intrigued that such a loud noise was coming from a small creature, and also the fact that the noise does not come from its mouth! The noise comes from their wings flapping at high speed . It is interesting to note that man takes the credit for having 'invented' all sorts of sophisticated 'rotor blades' that are used in many technology solutions.

The avian family have vocal chords and distinguish themselves with their unique 'bird songs', quite apart from other distinguishing features such as colour, size, shape of beak , feet etc. Giraffes do not have a voice, but they distinguish themselves with their graceful long necks and i think their long eyelashes fringing their beautiful eyes are adorable. Crickets don't actually make a sound from their mouths either but can tune up quite a loud noise , with their own sounds generated from rubbing their wings together. Dogs can hear sounds that are inaudible to the human ear. I don't know why these facts have presented themselves in my mind this morning. It is all a bit random!

However, i observe that the beauty of creation is around us everywhere. Everything has been specially crafted with its own unique design. I know that I am stating the obvious here, but can these things ever be said too often? Can I please appreciate creation and then bow to the master, the creator, the ultimate designer of all time?
Please indulge me.

I believe God's plan in crafting each unique thing is that each one has its own 'voice', each one has been given characteristics and tools with which to express the beauty of how they were created. Each one is given these , and the opportunity to utilise them ultimately to pay back the glory to the one who made them. Each one has the potential to be a reflection of the power of its creator.

No matter the limitations, real or imagined that I have, I am plugged into this idea that I must transcend these and find every possible means of reflecting the beauty of His grace and the power of His love.

So, go ahead, be what God created you to be, join the throng of all creation and distinguish yourself in the ways God intended. Enjoy the knowledge that you are in His purpose.


Let everything that has breath praise The Lord
Psalm 150:6


My own little Psalm of praise.....

I praise you with my voice
With the rushing of breath through my nose 
With the beat of my heart
With the sound of my footsteps

I praise you
With no sound at all
In stillness
I bow
Fear is gone
Your love is near
I bow
And I hear your voice

Joblogs- My journal entries in a time of trouble

Hubby and I post surgery at a Mall

Today is a year since I had surgery for breast cancer, and I have been reflecting on this past year. So much has happened, but what is more remarkable to me is that my family and myself look back now with fond memories.

It was a time of pulling together in prayer, in kind, in encouragement and every manner of support you can imagine. I owe a debt of gratitude to all my friends and family who have allowed God to use them in this way. God literally answered all your prayers!

I really beleive that God has allowed me to go through all these challenges for the prime purpose of displaying His glory. I got with His programe in a big way soon after the news of the diagnosis broke. I was scared , yes i was. I thought perhaps my time was up. I thought all those things, and looked heavenward and asked my maker why? After spending a little time asking those questions, and allowing myself 24hours to freak out, i took on 'battle mode'.

My battle strategy was to send messages to all the prayer groups I belonged to, for them to get on my case. Then I came into a self imposed mindset of choosing to worship God and being grateful as a default. I reminded myself of three points, and just focused on those three points, making them into constant affirmations at all times.  My thinking was that whatever the outcomes of this new challenge, I would stand on these truths, and believe them to be immutable. Whether I lived one more day or 10 or 50 more years, whether I came through the surgery alive or not, the same three declarations would be my portion.

1. I am whole in Christ Jesus

2. I am loved by God with an everlasting love that spans from eternity to eternity

3. Nothing can prevail against me as long as I am standing in the Lord.

To commemorate one year of victory, I am sharing the blogs I wrote during that time because I think this is the best way of giving an insight into that time, and into how God has really glorified himself again.

I titled them 'Joblogs' because I wrote them while I was in Johannesburg, South Africa for my medical consultations and treatment. My prayer is that you will encounter the unquantifiable power of God's love through these pieces of writing.

JOBLOG 3-Defiance
I've bought two pairs of shoes
A pair of slacks and painted my toe nails
I painted my toe nails
I painted them bright red
A blood of Jesus, bright red
In defiance of the enemy's latest plans
No! I mean no! I reject this outright
For the Lord has given me a full life span
Blood of Jesus, red toe nail day
Yes, red toe nails day!
23 Oct 2011

JOBLOG 4-Opposite speak

I know that the experts will have their report, their prognosis and whatever.
FACT.
However it is the Lord's report that we shall believe.
The Lord says of me, Lara
-The blood of Jesus in whom I am redeemed, speaks greater things
-He shall perfect that which concerns me
-Greater is he that is in me than he who is against me
-I am more than a conqueror
-He will satisfy me with a full life span
-He satisfies my desires with good things so my youth is renewed like the eagles
-No weapon fashioned against me shall prosper
-He is my God, my times are in His hands
-Nothing shall prevail against me, for I stand in Him
-Eternity is not big enough to contain the love He has towards me

 24 Oct 2011

.......And a bit of frivolity
One of the fun things my daughter did for me after the surgery was to flat iron my natural Afro hair. I was pleasantly surprised at how long my hair had grown and my hubby took many lovely photographs which we call my 'victory photo-shoot'

Victory Photoshoot-Post surgery

JOBLOG 5- Confusion

My heart leaps for joy at the evidence of His love for me, poured out so beautifully through each one who is praying for and encouraging me. I give him glory and unbounded praise. Now anyone who knows the awesomeness of His grace boogie on down with me this morning. Oya! Start steppin....mehn! I don't think anyone can match my steps. This is a dance of victory!!! Oh YESSS
I looked at the biopsy report's diagrams
And I thought
This looks so much like one of those photos
From outer space
The lay of the land of some rare planet
The alien matter that has dared to enter my body
This temple of the Most High
I banish you outright with everlasting cancellation and removal from my body
In Jesus name!
I rejoice today in victory over this liar
For the Lord has preserved my physical vessel
I have much still to do in my spirit man
So, my earth suit just needs repair.

JOBLOG 6 -War

The body language of Victory!

We shall not waste a shred of emotional capital in fear, worry or dread.
Instead we shall invest every minuscule bit of concern in the Lord's throne room.
He is in the business of the miraculous intervention, the exchange of beauty for ashes, the oil of gladness instead of a spirit of despair.
So, we shall invest in the kind of capital that is 100% certain to yield a bountiful return.
-Unbounded joy in the lord
-high praise
-thanksgiving
For Our Father God is mighty to save
Leap for joy
Rejoice with me!
For He has given me a new name!
Omolara Miracle
 Joburg
 26 Oct 2011
                                                                                                       
JOBLOG 7-Worship

Most high God, in you I am whole and I worship you this morning with exalted praise! I know what purpose you have laid in my spirit for my life and I am sure there is even more that will yet unfold. All we are seeking is for your glory, that Omolara Miracle's physical vessel is repaired and restored, for I need it to carry my spirit man. My spirit man cries out to you Lord, its desire and passion came from you. Glorify yourself then Lord! That all will know that there is no God like Jehova, ishout for joy! Awesome, loving, merciful Lord, my Abba father in whom there is no shifting like shadows. Halleluyah!!!
Omolara Miracle
Joburg    27 Oct 2011


JOBLOG 8 - Declarations of belief
All things are possible to those who believe. What that means to me, is that there is literally no limit to what I can do. This is one of the characteristics of God himself. He has given us a part of his nature. This I know for a fact because he said I am made in His image, and he has deposited the Holy Spirit in me. Being made in the image of my heavenly father means I have his spiritual DNA. Now that I have been diagnosed with another health challenge, I find myself reminded of some of the truths I discovered during my last one.
That is, that the Lord will glorify himself in an ailing body, because who He is transcends the physical.
As my body battles now with breast cancer, I am ever more aware that His glory is getting greater and greater in me.
I can say this because I believe.
I believe God so much that I am connected to myself  on many levels.
My self awareness is in the spheres of spiritual, emotional and psychological intelligence.
I believe that God speaks greater things in them than my physical body.
My spirit man is actually the true part of who I am because I believe this is the part of me that has the potential to attain 'all things' in a limitless fashion.
The same way my creator is limitless, so the deposit of himself in me is limitless.
So, every time I reach a brick wall or challenge, I can walk through it because I know the true substance of who I am is NOT this bag of bones and muscle and nerves and vital organs.

For so long now, as far back as I can remember, I have had challenges with this physical vessel. These challenges have constantly battled to trick me into taking note of them over and above the true content of who I am: the King's Kid.
I know that I have emerged a victorious warrior and I always win because I believe.
I believe that God is using me to show who He is and to show case His awesome resplendent glory, for there really is no reason for me to have survived childhood.
I did not know that my childhood challenges were a negligible part of what I was to face, but the Lord himself trains me for the battles at every stage.
So, here I am in joburg, getting an enforced boob job. I realise now more than ever that; I have been raised to be an advocate for belief.
I realise that whatever I believe is what is true for me, and this shapes what God can achieve in and through me.
LARA'S CREED
I believe my God almighty has empowered me to do exceedingly abundantly more than I can imagine
I believe my God almighty sees me as beautiful, even with one boob
I believe my God almighty sees me as fruitful
I believe the lord sees me as a mighty warrior, powerful, strong and full of valor
I just believe I am able to do exponentially more because of my challenges.
I believe God,
And all the things he has said and written about me.
I believe in His love, unbounded and infinite.
I believe in Him I am whole.
I simply BELIEVE
And herein is my source of joy!

Omolara Miracle
Joburg
29 Oct 2011


JOBLOG 9-Praise

ANGEL'S FEET

I came to joburg on a mission

When the Jacrandas were in full bloom

Striking purple tree tops visible everywhere you looked

No place you cast your eyes that you didn't see them

Their richness of colour

Their abundance

Their beauty

I came to joburg on a mission

I saw the fallen jacarandas

Like a beautiful carpet strewn on the ground.

So beautiful, so delicate, a work of art

Floor covering for angel's feet to tread

I came to Joburg on a mission

I saw my pain and fear vanquished

I felt so warmly the love of God

Sent to me through so many people

In prayer, in thought, in words, in deeds

The love of God was everywhere

It was within me and without

It was in the hearts of people

Who needed not speak words

It was in my  heart of hearts

Accomplished mission

Though a physical part of me was lost

My spirit and psyche were never bigger, or stronger

Because the jacarandas were everywhere

Resplendent, and beautiful

And for angel's feet to tread


Post surgery
On my way home from the hospital
Joburg
02 Nov 2011

My young people joined others to pray!

 These are excerpts from prayers that were posted by our children into an online group that were praying fervently for me through every step.

Thank You Lord for Mum's life. All her life, you have paid specific attention to her, and performed miracles in her life. You have used her to defy man's so called science and to glorify Your name. You have stretched your arm and brought her back from the far places our faith was at times too weak to go, and you have shown us that You are capable beyond our imagining. We pray Dear Lord that you will strike again in this situation in the way that we know you to have done so efficiently before. We ask you for full and total restoration for mum; for healing; for strength; for courage; for calm; for effervescent joy. Amen

We stand firm on your word O Lord. We stand firm on your word because you are not a man that you should lie, your word is full of promises for us. That they that hope in you will renew their strength, that you will lift them up on eagles wings. Lord, lift mum up on eagles wings and restore her to wholeness in every regard . You have also said in Isaiah 43 that when we pass through the fire, we will not be burned. May it come to pass for us as it did for Shadrak, Meshak and Abednigo in Jesus mighty name. We cast out fear, doubt, and worry and say they have no place for us. Indeed, we are already clothed in our fire proof clothing which is praise and prayer. Thy name be exalted forever and ever. Amen
 

Father Lord in the mighty name of Jesus we just commit Omolara Miracle Cookey into your hands today. We are amidst circumstances we know you can clear without even batting a Holy eyelid, for you are the eternal God, who is capable of anything. We lift her up before your throne of grace this morning and pray for absolute and total restoration of her soul, her psyche and her body. I do not believe anyone should have to fight for life. But you said your ways aren't mine. So Lord I am praying that you fight on Mummy's behalf, so she can be at ease. I pray Lord that you clear any sign of any disease in her entire body, and that you restore her such that it will be as if she has returned to youth. I am fed up of my mother having to suffer- she is your faithful servant. Indeed, blessed are the transgressed, so she is blessed in that she stays faithful to you and follows your commands. But Lord, this righteous anger inside me is spurring me to scream and demand the health and restoration our Mum deserves. We have all been saying it, she is a miracle. Lord, prove us right again! Continue to work your wonders in Omolara, such that the whole world will look on and know that there is a God! Glorify yourself this year. Because EVERYONE is praying for the same thing- show us that you care for us. You said that where 2 or 3 are gathered, there you are in their midst. We have all gathered virtually, and as far as I know this should count. So Lord, shake body. Bust a move. DO something. Restore Omolara to wholeness. This we humbly ask of you in the name of your son Jesus Christ. 

Amen.
JOBLOG 10 -Renewal

It was only befitting that after this recent challenge and several victories in Christ Jesus, that I should give a shout out to the whole universe with my Romans 12:2 hair as well!
So, my daughter blow dried and flat ironed my hair for another one of several 'victory' photo shoots-the ultimate photo shoot  by one ace photographer; my hubby. We were all so excited and enjoyed the process! My sister and brother- in- law's beautiful side garden became the backdrop of our photo shoot.
With every strand of my Romans 12:2 hair, I praise our Lord God Almighty! I am indeed a victorious woman in Christ, for I am once again walking in the physical reality of my inward confessions.

Omolara Miracle 
Joburg
16 Nov 2011

The photographer allowed himself to be photographed too!

JOBLOG 12-Rejoicing

As I step out and dance
There is more in my footsteps than a beat
There is more in the beat than music
More than what is seen
The unseen runs freely
Flows like the river which makes glad the city of God
God is within the
Habitation of my mind and spirit
Without that, I could not stand
My life would have been a thing of pity!
But no! Mercy said NO!
At the end of this joburg mission
These are my conclusions
That my God is Almighty
The God of all Grace
The Lord of my Completeness
Has been faithful in the natural
He has worked profoundly in the supernatural
Humbled, grateful and elated beyond measure
I am still, I bow, I worship

OMC
Joburg
28 Nov 2011


THANK YOU!

Thank You all !

 Thank you all so much! From my close friends to acquaintances......to those that were praying for me that I didn't know personally, some of whom I may never meet.
This victory is not just for my family and me, but for you all also.
God bless everyone of you richly!

Crushed hope revived

It was in the salty sea breeze

That caressed my face ever so gently

That blew away crushed hope

That I heard of revival

It was far away on the horizon

On the cusp of rolling waves

And foaming deep green embers

The unfolding of eternity's space

The endless of time

Destiny uncovered once again

It was in that moment of silence

That I heard

Different for a day

I am brimming with notes of a song to sing and don't know how i will sing it.

I am touching the skies and zooming to the universe

Bringing down with me new visions, new worlds and the heart of creative intelligence.

I am confident of what i see and bold to speak of it

I am joyous in my discoveries and shouting on the tops of their lungs the unspoken realms of their desire

When the vision dies, so do I, and I will never let this be

For I am constant to eternity to be faithful

No thing, nor circumstance will I allow to deter me from embracing with newness 

The defeat of my fears and sorrows and the amazing exceedingly joyful tomorrows.

Live it,

speak it,

Be it, I must,

Must dare to be different,

Even for a day.

Artwork by Bie Cookey titled 'Different for a day'-this title was the inspiration for the poem

Abyss

I went to the edge of the abyss,
To gaze at all the stuff that had fallen away from me.
Where, all things that I wished for, had fallen into.

Google images

Where, they had fallen in, and plummeted down.
Their journey continues.
They are still hurtling on their way, to, I know not where.
There is yet more that will fall away.
Abyss, labyrinth, tortuous paths.
Stretching far away to unseen depths.
I have turned around.
Turned the back of my head,
To the abysmal abyss.
I have set my gaze on something else.
Full stop, no shifting, no changing.
My gaze is on something new!

inspired by Genesis 41:51..... God has made me forget all my trouble......

Counterpoised spirals

Artist: Bie Cookey

Wounds heal

Scars seal over

Fresh armour plating

Visual reminders

Similar situations Stir

Same feelings

Crop up

An old spiral is set on edge

Waiting to spin

Downward it goes

If we permit the thoughts

Pulled down with it

Counterpoised spin

Unfurl

Unwind

Acknowledge what is past

The faint glimmer of pain

Prepares to flare up

Imminent  raging fire again

Holy Spirit of God, Douse the dying embers

Now no more than smoke

God of all creation

Blow the smoke away

To the far corners of creation

Where they will be un recognisable

Watered down by the power of your beauty

Unable to regroup

Unable to cause any further harm

Let my scars be the evidence

That I have lived boldly for Him

And not something I nurse for self pity

Or loathing

Or blame

Or resentment and accusation

Ah but what are these black charred remains?

Unseen Enemy

I was fighting an unseen enemy

I did not know who or what

I was totally oblivious

Until such ground over me was gained

I battled with wrong labels and attitudes

Mine and others combined

That produced an insidious disquiet

A slow undercurrent

A torment that was hidden

When the battle broke

And my enemy's face was revealed

And I knew clearly from whence the war was waged

I came to a place of realisation

A place of strength

Utilisation of the wisdom of my years

And then some