the antithesis of a Poet [!]

antithesis of a Poet

Let my words speak for themselves:

Bold, Crunchy, Smooth, Rough

Like peanut-butter on bread

Spread it on. Thick.

Take a bite. Eat.

Be enlightened.

Grow.

Let my words speak for themselves

For if you look at me you may not relate

For you will find:

No afro hair,

No emancipative stare,

No slogan tee,

No cause to free-

Just me

Relatively speaking, I am not what you see

I am what I speak

Having the power of life and death on my taste-buds

I choose Life

And boy… is it sweet!

Let my words speak for themselves

For they have life,

And can give life;

If you will receive LIFE

Let my words speak for themselves

For maybe within them you may recognize:

Footsteps heard in shoes you once wore

The taste of an-almost love that knocked at your door

Fears of the future, concealed in your past

Dying for truth;

Living for lies in contrast to:

Hope

Let my words speak for themselves;

For, I am the antithesis of a Poet

Here you will see:

No poetry slams, no hip-hop jams

No feminist fads or political jabs

No mentality of race, but a desire for space

To

                                                                                              just 

be

                                                     Me.

I couldn’t colour outside the lines ‘cos I didn’t even have a pencil

When I stopped to ask for directions, teacher’s just handed me a stencil

But, I knew I was born “break the mould”

I Love Life

But I’m not sold

Cos’ I was bought with a price

And it’s so nice

To finally be free,

Basking in my True Identity

Found only in Him who has gone before me,

Loves me; adores me

Constantly assures me

That I am made in the image of ONE- who is three

The perfect design of a spiritual being

Beautiful, adorable- altogether irreplaceable

Born to love and to be loved; my heart- unshakeable

In passion, alive with fire and mystery

Designed to show forth the praises of The Holy Trinity

To testify of the wonders of His grace and glory

To speak Fire and Life; to share my story…

Let my words speak for themselves

For I am the antithesis of a poet,

I am conduit

“He who believes in me as the Scripture has said: ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.‘” John 7:38

Until then...

Keep becoming His best.

© 2012 Allison Pillay

I'm not your SUPERWOMAN (>_<)

Morning Ladies ('00,)

Does anyone remember that song by Karyn White back in the late 80's with the same title as my blog today? I'll refresh your memory with a few lyrics:

"Early in the morning I put breakfast at your table,
I make sure that your coffee has it's sugar and cream"

Is the memory becoming clearer now? I remember my aunts' listening to it and crooning out the verse, " now you say the juice is sour, it used to be so sweet", and thinking to myself, "Lady, that's 'cos you didn't check the expiry date!" Lol. Childhood innocence.

Well, today, I wanted to shine the spotlight a bit on the "Superwoman" mentality pervading our society. Yes, this is the information age, and most woman are free to achieve much more than our predecessors did. We can vote, work, raise kids and raise profits in international companies while fighting for causes and still look good while doing it. Or can we? 

Are we fighting so hard to maintain an ideal that has been thrust upon us by the Cosmopolitan and Vogue magazines out there, that we are floundering to look the part? Act the part? Sound the part? Are we trying to "do it all", forgetting that it is "not by might or power, but by His Spirit"? [Zechariah 4:6].

The pressures to look like a Hollywood wife, or Milan model extends worldwide to places like South Africa- and even here- local celebrities' lives are swathed in an air of scandal and negativity. While, I am not judging their choices, I am asking the crucial question: "When did their lives become our standard?" The truth is that most celebrities and models crack under the pressure of trying to maintain their lives. The irony however, is that while we are aspiring to become like them, (have it all, do it all)- they are falling apart.

Yet God in His grace has already provided the standard for us:
Proverbs 31. 
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+31&version=NIV

This epic passage describes exactly what a modern Christian woman should look like. In fact, I wonder how many rich and famous/fast and furious iconic woman out there have come into contact with these liberating verses? To summarise, it describes a virtuous, God-fearing, independent young woman who is a good wife, mother, friend, businesswoman and citizen. So much so, that, "...her works bring her praise at the city gate." [v31]

Below are a few verses that really stand out for me, with relevance to today's society and our role as Christian women. 

A Proverbs 31 Woman:

- Is entrepreneurial [v16]
"She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard." 

- Is socially relevant [v20]
"She opens her hands to the poor and extends her hands to the needy."

- Has faith in God and trusts in His Divine provision [v25]
"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."

- Is industrious and shows concern for her loved ones- not self-absorbed [v27]
" She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."


 - Is a faithful friend and good role model to young women [v26]
"She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue."
 
 - Puts God first in all she does. Through the Holy Spirit, cultivates inner beauty and character while caring for her health, fitness and well-being [v30]
"Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." 



I once heard it said that, "Being a woman does not make you a better Christian, but being a Christian does make you a better woman." We are to be the standard for a generation of lost, confused, hurting and broken women out there. We don't have to be "Superwoman"; we are already Princesses, with VIP access to Heaven through Jesus Christ. May we as women, therefore look only to God, to become all that we can be (and more!):
For His Glory, and our good.


 

The "S" on my chest stands for SPIRIT: The one and only, who's HOLY;
without Him- I cannot do it!
 

Until then...

Keep becoming His Best

© 2012 Allison Pillay

 

The Single Lady & The Abundant Life

All My Single-Ladies,

Don't put your hands up. I know how you feel. He didn't put a ring on it, or maybe he did, then changed his mind. Or maybe you're still waiting for "him". Uh, uh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh! Are you one of those just going through the hum-drum of life, waiting for "him" to appear and life to suddenly take flight? Well, are you?

Wake Up!! There's a whole lot of life to live and a whole lot of people to love! The abundant life that Jesus spoke of in John 10:10 is not just to be lived at a specific time or season- but continually in our walk with Him. Whether single or married, business-woman or housewife, we are called to live the abundant life in Jesus Christ. See, the abundant life is not dependant on our circumstances: past, present or future, but on the goodness of a loving, faithful, supernatural God.

When I was younger (than I am now!) and used to do school evangelism, I remember encouraging other teens not to wait until they were older before choosing Jesus. Many of them said," I'll serve Jesus, after college", or " I want to experience life first". Well, those who chose to do life before Christ, found it to be a shallow experience filled with much confusion, and in time soon discovered that indeed Christ is Life!  You see, they had initially thought that if they waited for life to be just perfect, that would be the best time to serve Jesus. How often do we sometimes think that way?

For those of you who know and love me :), you are well acquainted with my culinary creations and passion for cooking. It is a past-time that helps me to relax, unwind and unleash my creativity on hungry participants! Yet, I must admit that my greatest reward often comes from seeing those I love enjoy the meal. Which begs the question from many a nosy aunt (because yes, I am part Indian), "So nice curry you make! When you gonna find a nice, nice husband?"  Umm, and that's my cue.... "Dessert anyone?"

Well, to be honest, many a single sister has often asked the same question, "When, Lord?". If fact, we can sometimes get so caught up in the eternal angst that we inevitably put our lives on hold. Instead of living life abundantly- we put our desires, dreams and ultimately destiny on hold for "One Day".

In "Lady in Waiting" by Jackie Kendall and Debbie Jones, I came across one such story of a young lady- who in anticipation of her prince arriving one day- had packed away all her treasured items. In fact, she used to eat all meals on a paper plate! One day, God told her to set out her finest china and crystal for dinner and to continue doing so. Each night, she ate dinner, not from a paper plate- but from fine china, as the precious Princess that she was. 

Guess what? In time her hosting skills grew and one day (read the book to find out how :O), her dreams came true!

You see, the abundant life is all about enjoying God now. Just where you are: Loving God and living Life to the fullest.  Remember: You are LOVED, You are CHOSEN, You are WANTED! So don't hold back and wait for the perfect moment- but dive right in! Father God is waiting to lead you onto the Adventure of a lifetime- Yours!

Chicken Tagliatelle with a Creamy Pesto-Parma sauce and home-made Garlic Crostini- Bon' Apetite! [Recipe available on request ;D]


 
Till then...

Keep Becoming His Best


© 2012 Allison Pillay