Striving
Posted on 21. Jan, 2010 by admin.
How many times have we prayed prayers like “ God please give me more patience. God please help me to love this person. God please give me more grace today…”
I don’t know about you but I can think of plenty of instances where I have prayed these kinds of prayers.
It is good for us to recognize our need for God in our lives, but why are we striving? Why do we feel like we need an extra measure of a particular “fruit of the Spirit”?
Today I want to delve a little deeper and think about the root of our needs and prayers.
If we think about God’s desire for our lives; isn’t it this- that we may come to live a life where we fully yield to His Spirit? A life where we literally die to our flesh and are fully reborn and live in Christ?
God desires deep intimacy with each of us and it is His heart that we would be madly in love with Him. He has done everything for us! He gave His Son’s life for us so that we might be able to have a relationship with Him! What an amazing and selfless gift.
So getting back to our question, why are we striving, I think it comes down to this:
We need more of Jesus! It is not that we need more patience, more grace, more kindness because these are all the fruit from the same Spirit- the Spirit of Christ. We strive to love more, to have more compassion and patience- but God’s word tells us that Christ is in us. His Spirit is at work. Not only am I in Christ, but Christ is in me.
If I live through my flesh, I find that what is mine in Christ (the fruit of His Spirit) is being withheld from me and I am left striving.
When we live through our Spirit it means that we are trusting the Holy Spirit to do in us what we know we can’t do. Each time we are faced with a situation we look to Him to do in us what is required. It is not a case of “trying” but “trusting”.
Exodus 14:13 “Stand still and see the salvation of God which He will work for you”.
Christ is love! Christ is humility! Christ is self-control and power. Christ in us is the answer to every human need!
Next time you find yourself needing an extra dose of love or joy or any other feeling of personal deficiency- don’t ask God to give you a hand out to get you through. Stop striving. Ask God to let His Holy Spirit have His way! Yield to Him and trust.
God does not call us to live a life of striving. He calls us to an abundant life where we get to live through Christ in us!
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Have I Surrendered All?
Posted on 19. Jan, 2010 by admin.
How is it possible that we as Christians have so little power, when the same power and Spirit that raised Christ from the grave lives in us?
Romans 8:11- The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Let’s think about this for a minute; if God raised Christ from the dead, and God has given us His Holy Spirit, and we are heirs to the throne with Jesus, then shouldn’t we be living with the same power that raised Christ from the dead? YES!
The early disciples didn’t have trouble casting out demons or healing the lame, then why do we? If that power is really in us, then something must be blocking it from coming out. Is it sin? Most definitely sin is part of the problem, but not the root.
Dying to Myself
I believe the 2010 church is not living in the full power that God has for us, because we have not surrendered everything to our Holy God. We’re not focused on His desires, on falling more deeply in love with Jesus, on seeking His will in every area of our lives.
We are committed to following Jesus, but we stop when it costs us everything.
The church of 2010 doesn’t seem like the early church. We do not share all that we have so that no one is hungry. We are taught (even in church) to save for ourselves and our future – and that seems wise and logical. But is that what Jesus wants for us? Does Jesus want His beloved to save for themselves or give it all away?
When Jesus sent out his disciples in Matthew 10, He told them not to bring any gold or silver. Why? Why not bring some change for the road trip? Maybe Jesus was trying to show them that they could fully depend on Him for everything, and He would not let them down.
No extra clothes, no money, no savings accounts, debit or credit cards… nothing. And I think the disciples did OK.
I think we need to re-look at how we’re living, who we’re really following, read these scriptures like we’re going to take them literally.
It starts with a fully surrendered heart. A heart that says “not my will, but Yours be done”.
What is Keeping Me From Living in the Fullness of Everything God has for Me?
Ask God to search your heart today and reveal to you anything that may be keeping you from everything that He has for your life. It may be a relationship, unforgiveness, a seed of jealousy, a habit. It doesn’t even necessarily have to be a bad thing.
God reveals things to us because He wants the very best for us!
What He asks us to sacrifice is nothing in comparison to what we will gain- living in His Spirit!
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Responding to the Crisis in Haiti
Posted on 14. Jan, 2010 by admin.
The recent earthquakes in Haiti have been absolutely devastating. According to Yahoo News it is feared that over 100,000 people may have died so far.
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Christmas Can CHANGE the World!
Posted on 17. Dec, 2009 by admin.
This video produced by World Relief echoes our heart at the Moju Project. Everyone should watch this 2 minute video!
At the Moju Project we are saving lives every day through the sales of our fair trade t-shirts and handcrafted Timbali bags!
For the One,
Team Moju
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MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Posted on 10. Dec, 2009 by admin.
The season of Christmas is one that touches us all. This season is filled with parties, decorations, family and friends, cookies, and gifts galore! It is really the only time of year where people intentionally reach out to others.
I don’t know about you but I LOVE to say MERRY CHRISTMAS to anyone and everyone! The joy that fills my heart when I think about what Christmas means to me is at times overwhelming.
Christ is the reason for Christmas! We give gifts in celebration of the gift that Jesus gave to us! We sing carols and songs about Jesus! O’ Holy Night, Silent Night- these songs share the story of Christ’s birth; our Savior’s entrance into the world!
We once were lost, but now we our FOUND; how can we not celebrate our Saving Grace!?
Christmas makes me think about Mary and her unwavering faith and trust in God. I think about what Jesus’ birth meant to her; knowing in her heart that she was impregnated by the Holy Spirit and was the chosen vessel to bring Jesus to us.
“The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again. The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb. Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations? Did you know that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb? This sleeping child you’re holding is the great I am.”
For as blessed as we are, Christmas also makes me think about those who don’t know the Lord; people who feel hopeless, abandoned, and lost. I think about the orphans around the world who do not have moms and dads or in some cases any family.
My heart aches for them. I pray that every person would encounter the LOVE of our Heavenly Father. I pray that they would find the HOPE that we have all found! I pray that you and I would seek out ways to be a blessing to people. I pray that we would reach out to those who are hurting and lift people up.
I pray that we would remember that Christmas is about Christ and that we would take time to reflect and give thanks to God for everything He has done for us!
At the Moju Project we pray that you would experience God in a real and tangible way this season. May your hearts be filled with uncontainable joy and may you remember how loved you are!
We can’t help but thank God for all of your support this past month! We have sold tons of t-shirts and rejoice over the lives you are saving!
We are so blessed by what God is doing!
We wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS!
For the One,
Team Moju
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Announcing: Our NEW SHIRTS!!!
Posted on 04. Dec, 2009 by admin.
You voted and now the results are in!!!
One week from today these shirts will be in our hands and available for you to purchase! (We are posting the shirts on our website, so that you can pre-order! The shirts will be shipped out starting next Friday!)
Our top design was Spread Love! 
The runner up was our Feed Just 1 shirt. (please note that this shirt will be available in brown).
We have also decided to print our Moju X design on a very cool Slate blue color!
We have ordered a limited number of each design- so make sure you pre-order to guarantee your shirt! Once these are sold, we can not guarantee that we will be receiving more shirts prior to Christmas.
Thank you for partnering with us to save lives!!!
Here are the winning designs from our recent contest! CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR T-SHIRTS!
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Hand-Crafted Bags Created by Women in Africa that Feed Orphans
Posted on 30. Nov, 2009 by admin.
We are so excited be able to offer you these hand-crafted Timbali Bags!
These bags are made in Swaziland, Africa by the village “GoGos” (grandmothers). Each bag is hand-made and is one of a kind! No two bags are identical but each bag is made with equal amounts of love!
The bags come in a variety of colors and patterns. All of the bags are also reversible, so you can choose between a bolder pattern or a solid gray or cream alternative.
In Swaziland, the average life expectancy is around 28 years old. This is mainly due to the wide-spread AIDS pandemic in the country. As a results most children are double orphans (having lost both parents).
The GoGos will often take in as many orphan children into their small huts as they can. It is not unusual to visit a hut and find as many as 10 children living their.
These women carry the weight of their country on their backs.
When you purchase a Timbali bag, you are supporting the work and livelihood of these amazing women and the children they have taken in.
Your bag will include a tag with the name of the grandmother who hand-crafted it just for you!
TIMBALI BAGS ARE DOUBLE THE BLESSING!
NOT ONLY WILL YOUR PURCHASE SUPPORT THE GOGOS, IT WILL ALSO GO TOWARDS FEEDING AN ORPHAN FOR 1 MONTH!!!
Since all of the bags are unique, we have no way of allowing you to pick your bag. It is a grab-bag style! However, if you have a pattern or color that you like, please call us and we will do our absolute BEST to accommodate you!
We thank you in advance for partnering with us to save lives and support these beautiful women! Buy your bag here!
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What a Little Can Do
Posted on 05. Nov, 2009 by admin.
I want to talk to you today about what your little can do.
I think about the small boy with the little lunch – Jesus had 5,000 hungry people and no way to feed them. None of the adults knew what to do but there was a little boy with a very small lunch. He knew it wasn’t much, just enough for him, but he was willing to give it to Jesus.
We know the story, he gave his lunch that day and Jesus fed 5,000 people and not only that but they gathered many baskets of leftovers. God always does exceedingly, abundantly above all we can imagine.
Most people wouldn’t have even been willing to offer that small lunch, they would have thought there was no way it could make a difference, but nothing is small in Jesus, He multiplies everything and causes it to be more than enough.
What is small to you may feed thousands. I know that those who give to this ministry, even small gifts, it helps to feed, spiritually, thousands daily. Isn’t that amazing! God takes that gift, multiplies it and causes it feed thousands.
The Bible says when we are faithful over little, He will make us ruler over much. I want to point out two things here. When we are faithful over little, He doesn’t make us ruler over little, but ruler over much. Secondly, it is ONLY when we are faithful with little that we become ruler over anything.
Many people will say when the win the lottery they will give God $50,000 but I say, if you don’t give the $50 you have now, you won’t give the $50,000 when it is in your hands. If you don’t give the $5 you have now, you will never be found faithful over little and you will never be ruler over much.
Everyone reading this today has something they can give, it may not be money, but each one of you has a place to start being faithful in little today. Perhaps you bake well, you could bake someone in need a dessert or even a meal. It may be little to you but it will be great to them.
Perhaps you have an extra blanket or coat lying around, give it, it may mean nothing to you – but to the person you give it to, it will mean warmth over a long, winter season.
When we begin to give, even if it is little, we set ourselves up for a lifetime of miracles coming our way. Remember the window woman? She only had a little flour and oil, nothing to brag about – only enough to make one more meal for her and her son and then they would die. But the Prophet came along and ask her to make him a cake. She told him that she only had a little, he told her to give him that little. She obeyed the man of God and God provided for her through that entire famine.
However, it didn’t end there. Later in life, when her son died, she went to the same prophet and he prayed for him and he lived again. You see, she gave her little and it set her up for a lifetime of miracles.
It is my prayer for you that when you give, even if it is little, it sets you up for a lifetime of miracles. It is my prayer that as you give, even a little, that God will provide for you and your family during these times of famine in our land. He is the same God now as then. The principle remains the same – you give and God takes care of you, just as He did the widow woman back then. We simply can’t stop giving.
One more thing I want you to remember – it was a small thing that took down the giant of lack in the widows life that day, just as it was a small thing in the hand of David that took down the giant in his life – your small gift will take down every giant in your life.
This post is compliments of Kim Potter from A New Thing Ministries.
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Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus
Posted on 03. Nov, 2009 by admin.
One of the members from our Moju team, Joy Smith, just returned home from Swaziland. Being face to face with her brothers and sisters in Africa was a powerful reminder of how crucial it is that we take Jesus’ mandate seriously- to care for the orphans and widows in their distress.
I know that we are not all called to “go” but we are all called and responsible for loving and caring for our brothers and sisters around the world.
Joy is a woman who has said “YES” to the call of God on her life! As a mother of 4, she is a passionate orphan advocate and lover of Jesus. We are blessed that she is part of our team!
Here is what she wrote:
“I just returned home from a “Vision” trip to Swaziland. The purpose of the trip was to “see” what was going on there. What I saw to some, would be devastating, I know, but I was not surprised. The empty mud huts did not surprise me. The children with no clothes or little clothing did not surprise me. I was not surprised by the lack of food or jobs. I have been to other countries in Africa so I was prepared, or so I thought…
I was very surprised at the amount of child headed households. I was surprised that the age expectancy in Swaziland is only 28.7 years old. I was surprised that the HIV/AIDS is the highest per capita @ 46% of any other country. I was surprised that one community leader stated his greatest need was not food or clothing or shelter or jobs but coffins!! Coffins are his greatest need! That was surprising. I was surprised that more “westerners” are not doing something. Really we have so many options. Options for grocery stores, jobs, schools, really everything!! We have options. Lots and lots of options, In every area of our lives. I was surprised in Swaziland at the lack of options.
Parents in Swaziland want the same for their children as I want for my children. Good education, food, clothing shelter and a good job for the future. My children have loads of options. That is not the case in Swaziland. Job opportunities are slim, education is not affordable for the average Swazi and food and clothing are scarce.
But I did find hope in Swaziland. I did see the difference we can make. I saw children being fed at “CarePoints”. A CarePoint is a safe place for children to come and have a meal, go to school and have a place to play, to actually be children. These Carepoints are run by the local community leaders and the “gogo’s” (grandmother in Siswati).
There was hope at these CarePoints. Hope there will be food; hope for an education and for a future.
You CAN make a difference in the life of children in Swaziland. I have seen it! You can offer them options for a better tomorrow. Buy a t-shirt and feed one of these children for a month.”
(The Moju Project partners with Children’s HopeChest and Feed My Starving Children to provide meals to orphans and widows in Africa. Joy was able to see first hand the difference we are making by visiting Carepoints, like the Carepoints we are involved with, where these children are receiving holistic care.)
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10 Fun Ways to Serve Your Co-Workers!
Posted on 29. Oct, 2009 by admin.
Sometimes being the tangible hands and feet of Jesus can be as simple as paying a compliment, offering encouragement, or smiling at the kid at the copier. This short little post is meant to offer some easy, little ways to show love to your coworkers Enjoy!
- Pick up coffee and donuts- whose face wouldn’t light up at the sight of freshly glazed donuts and hot coffee!?
- Be intentional and pay a compliment- the best part is it is free!
- Clean the restroom- be willing to do the the job that nobody wants to do… that is showing a true servant-lovers heart. Just remember that in everything you do, you are performing an act of worship and the the Lord is with you!
- Be a good listener.
- Pray for them- even if they don’t know it. You are a light in your office and a great way to spread that light is to pray and sow seeds of faith into the people around you. Pray for God to soften hearts, prepare the way, open the door for Godly conversation, etc.
- Become the office encourager :O)
- Be active in conversation- ask questions- show your coworker(s) you care.
- Invite them to church. Have you invited your coworker to church in the past? Maybe it is time to offer another invitation (especially if you take time to do what is on this list!)
- Write them a note or card. Please use discretion in who you write to and how you say it. Be mindful of how it may come across (i.e. a married man it best to not write a note to his single female secretary, etc.) But a note written in the right context can really brighten their day!
- If finances allow, take someone (your boss out to lunch! Bosses need encouragement too
Be on the lookout for other ways to serve! If you have fun ideas, please share them below!
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- Announcing: Our NEW SHIRTS!!!
- Responding to the Crisis in Haiti
- It's Gonna Be Worth It
- Christmas Can CHANGE the World!
- Striving
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Char: Hey:) This was also the perfect timing for me t...
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admin: Hi Suzette, I am so glad that this post spoke t...
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Suzette Sannuto: Well said...a very timely & much needed messag...
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Onesmus Kamwara: Praise be to God for these gems of insights. Sure...
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Dave Wollard: They call them the fundamentals for a reason - tha...
