Can you smell the colour nine ?

Religion / Relationship

2011-12-23T16:40:00.000Z

Religion tries to make everyone the same

whereas

Relationship brings the different parts into harmony

each functioning in their unique

individual places

A challenge to the world

2011-12-21T08:47:00.000Z

The Queen of Sheba was speechless in the presence of Solomon’s wisdom.

It’s time for God’s people to display a wisdom

that causes the world to become silent again

A thought for christmas

2011-12-19T14:37:00.000Z

His birth was the well-kept secret of God, whispered among the stars

Only a handful of people even cupped their ears to listen.

And they were from Persia, not Palestine

They were Gentiles, uncircumcised & without the promises of God

Odd that the revelation of a Jewish Messiah was heard by foreigners.

Astrologers, of all people

Odd that it wasn’t heard by priests or rabbis or members of the Sanhedrin.

Odd too that the messenger was not a prophet but …. Of all things …..

A star

Not a comet or a meteor shower but ….

a mere star

hung quietly in the night among a million others

It could not have been as spectacular as some have suggested,

for if it were, throngs of people would have been watching it

wondering about it and asking what it meant.

But God spoke through ……..

a mere star - hung quietly in the night among a million others

We need to be careful how we listen and be alert to the whispers of God

From Intimate Momemts with the Saviour

By Ken Gire

JESUS – as seen in the Bible

2011-12-13T14:01:00.000Z

You existed before everything else began

and now You hold all creation together

You hold it together by the power of your Word

In the beginning You already existed

You were with God ~ and You are God

You were in the beginning with God

and You created everything that there is

Nothing exists that You didn’t make

Life itself is in You for You are the author of life

and

You came into the world – to reveal God the Father to us

and to reconcile us to Him by dealing with our sin

You paid the penalty for our sin

and released us into an eternal future

full of blessing & promise

You gave us a hope and a future

THANK YOU JESUS

For all You give; For all You are

My life is nothing - without YOU

john's book

2011-10-30T14:12:00.000Z

John's book

Babylon or Jerusalem

Your Choice

is now available from Amazon

and shares the understanding of God's season for now

Prepared Ahead of Time

2011-09-07T15:07:00.002+01:00

Before you make a product you have defined its purpose

otherwise ……

you would make something & then consider …

so what should I use it for?

In the same way

when God created each of us

it was for a purpose – already defined and known

So ……. We don’t stop at some point in life & say

Now what …. ?

What is my purpose ?

We go back to the beginning – back to God and say….

What did you create me for

How did you want to involve me in your plans

For it was established

way back then

A Perspective on Life

2011-09-06T10:16:00.000+01:00

One lifetime

Is like a shooting star

Across eternity

Bricks or Seeds

2011-09-05T09:13:00.000+01:00

How do I relate to others ?

Do I drop bricks into people’s lives

by criticising; judging; discouraging

Do I sow seeds into people’s lives

seeds of life; seeds of truth

seeds of encouragement

Bricks destroy and crush people

Seeds bring forth a good harvest

So – don’t drop bricks

But ……

Sow seeds and watch them bear fruit

Life’s Journey

2011-09-03T08:11:00.000+01:00

Jesus asks us to walk with Him ……

not fly, or drive, or cycle or anything of speed

but walk with Him

Why?

Because walking is taken at a steady pace

allowing time to enjoy detours

to communicate and fellowship together

to sit down and enjoy the view

to make a decision at each step

as to which direction we will continue

to arrive calmly

So walk with Him

And take life at His pace

Reading the Bible

2011-09-02T10:01:00.000+01:00

How do you read the Bible?

Do you read it

looking for strength, comfort, encouragement?

Do you read it

to find promises for your life

or for study notes

or to prepare a sermon/teaching?

Or …… do you read it

searching for the One who wrote it?

Knowing or Knowing !!

2011-09-01T15:12:00.000+01:00

It is possible to know all about doctrine

and yet ………

not know Jesus

Knowing about Him

but ……

not actually knowing Him

Does my knowledge & doctrine surpass

my knowing of Him

Abundant life, eternal life is found

in Jesus

not in doctrine

Faith

2011-08-31T10:24:00.000+01:00

Faith is ……….

trusting God’s goodness

despite any evidence against it !

Will I trust God in my pain,

my weakness, my fear, my challenging situations

will I turn away from Him

in bitterness and anger?

Faith is ……….

trusting God’s goodness

despite any evidence against it !

Prayerfulness

2011-08-28T08:09:00.000+01:00

True prayerfulness is ………

The mind resting gently

in the heart

Communication

2011-08-26T17:28:00.000+01:00

Sometimes ….

words are the least effective form of communicating
And sometimes ………..
we think we haven’t heard God
because ………
we are looking for words
and He is communicating …..
in a different medium
check it out

It’s a Bigger Story

2011-08-25T15:54:00.000+01:00

Life is a bigger story than just you & yours

Many people may feel they only have a “bit” part

in God’s eternal plan

But …..

A “bit”part played with faithfulness & excellence

got people mentioned in the Bible

like Naaman’s servant girl who recommended

he went to the prophet for healing

Dorcas who was always doing good and helping the poor

Mary who anointed Jesus’ feet with perfume

and many others

So ……

Play your part with faithfulness & excellence

and know that it is important to God

and it will be mentioned or remembered

in eternity

Don’t Act Hastily

2011-08-24T09:46:00.000+01:00

In Joshua 9 we see how Joshua was caught out

by the deception of the Gibeonites

He saw with his natural eyes

and didn’t seek God for His spiritual eyes

He acted hastily

Don’t be hasty in what you do

Don’t look with natural eyes and be caught out like Joshua

Respond from spiritual eyes and ears

Galatians 5 v 25 says

Keep in step with the Spirit

Prayer

2011-08-19T15:01:00.000+01:00

Prayer is a way to harmonise
my own desires
with Gods

and then to help bring about

while on earth

what God has willed for all eternity

Ephesians 2 v 10

2011-08-17T13:15:00.000+01:00

He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,

so that
we can do the good things He planned for us long ago

So – hear Him say ……

Rest ……….. in what I am doing

Not …….

In what you want to do
We get so weary from doing things that He never planned for us to do
Do the things He planned
and know His rest

Restore my Soul

2011-08-16T15:22:00.003+01:00

We all know that the devil is a thief and a liar

And many of us have been robbed of things

from our inner being; from our soul

over the years

But David knew that Jesus was able

“to restore my soul” psalm 23 v 3

If you haven’t found that place yet

If you expect other people to prop you up

where you are weak

Find the long term answer

Ask Jesus to

Restore your soul

Know what the devil has robbed you of

and ask Jesus to restore it

Psalm 139 v 16

2011-08-16T09:26:00.000+01:00

You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Generally books are written black on white

But have you ever imagined what your book of days

(as referred to in the above verse)

might be like?

I imagine mine is written in rainbow colours

With sound as well as text

With illuminated lettering

And pictures and sketches as well as words

A reflection of the beautiful and creative life

that God has prepared for me

A reflection of the unique qualities that God has placed in me

And it gets ever more beautiful as the days go by

I hope get to see that book one day

Process

2011-08-15T10:13:00.001+01:00

God is not only working towards a particular purpose
in my life

but His purpose is the process itself

If I can stay calm, faithful, steady, believing

while in the middle of the turmoil of life

then God is being accomplished in me

Most often it is the process not the outcome

that is glorifying to God

On a mission for God

2011-08-12T09:16:00.000+01:00

In all of life

If we are on a mission for God

It makes sense that He will supply all our needs

Because …. It’s for His mission; His purpose

And He will equip us and supply for us

To complete what He wants us to do

What Concerns Us

2011-08-11T10:57:00.000+01:00

Do we tell God about our problems & concerns

Do we listen to His concerns

And see where and how He wants to involve us

Seasons

2011-08-10T14:11:00.000+01:00

God speaks into each season to declare what He is doing

And right now many prophets say

God is doing a new thing

And yet …..

They continue walking in the old !!

God is doing Kingdom

rather than church

We need to be where God is

and walking in His current revelation

Read The Unleashed Church

J J Sweetman – from Amazon

if you want to know more

or wait for his next book

Babylon or Jerusalem

available later this year !!

Prayer

2011-08-10T10:06:00.000+01:00

Prayer is not a time to find God’s presence

But ……

a time to respond to His presence

Prayer means keeping company with God ……..

who is already present

Content

2011-08-09T10:00:00.000+01:00

A man on retreat was shown to his cell by a monk

As the monk left the man he said …..

If you need anything just let us know

and ……

we will teach you how to live without it !!

Another Quote from St Augustine

2011-08-08T14:36:00.000+01:00

Find out how much God has given you

Take from it what you need

The remainder is needed by others

LOVE

2011-08-08T14:33:00.002+01:00

To love abundantly

is to live abundantly

And ….to be loved abundantly by God

is to live abundantly

The greater you open your heart to receive His love

the more you receive

But there’s no limit to God’s love

so open your heart ever wider to receive all that He will give

Quote from St Augustine

2011-08-08T14:26:00.002+01:00

Faith …….

is to believe what you do not see

and ………

the reward of this faith

is to see what you believe

Hear His Voice

2011-08-07T17:43:00.000+01:00

We all need to hear Father speaking into our lives

But you only learn to hear His voice by experience

If you want to hear Him in the crises of life

or the big issues and big decisions in life

You must first seek Him and hear Him

in the common places of life

It’s not a suddenly acquired skill

It’s a process and takes time

If we neglect to listen in the common places of life

We won’t hear in the tough times when we might feel desperate

Learn to hear His voice

above the urgent voices of the flesh.

God – change me !!

2011-08-07T17:35:00.001+01:00

Is life unsettled or challenging right now ??

Do you wonder what’s going on?
Maybe you asked God to do something in your life
Change me or take me deeper with You Lord
And ………
This is his way of doing it !!
Not what you expected
Like …………… just make it happen God
But ………..
It’s a process to get you there
and it’s not so comfortable
Be careful what you ask Him to do !!

PEACE

2011-08-07T16:56:00.001+01:00

Colossians 3:15

Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.

Phil 4 v 7

His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

If we trust in the Lord with all our heart

And don’t depend on our own understanding

If we seek His will in all we do

And let Him direct our paths

Then we will begin to find His peace ruling in our hearts

His peace guarding our minds

And that is a good position to live from

I Believe .......

2011-08-07T16:32:00.000+01:00

I believe ………….

I have been sent from heaven to do a work here…..
before eventually returning to heaven
So ….
I need to keep in regular contact with home base
I need to refer back to the Head for …..
mission; assignments; on-going instructions
wisdom & knowledge in situations
and for relationship & spiritual sustenance
I’m on a mission from elsewhere &
need to keep in contact with HQ

IF !

2011-07-27T17:13:00.002+01:00

How often do we say “If only …………..”

If only this hadn’t happened

or that hadn’t happened in my life

Then I wouldn’t be in this position that I am now

Like Martha who said

If only you had been here then …..

my brother wouldn’t have died

but ……… Jesus met her “IF” with His “IF”

IF you would believe then you would see

the glory of the Lord

So we need to realise that

IF we believe God is in our situation

then ……… the glory of God

will come out of that “IF” in our life

in His time ~ in His way

not necessarily how we would expect

Responses

2011-07-25T14:41:00.002+01:00

When Jesus was in the boat with the disciples

And they experienced a storm at sea

It wasn’t the storm that bothered Jesus

It was the unbelief of the disciples

When we have challenges in our life

It’s not the challenges that bothers Jesus

He can deal with any of them – no matter what

But He is interested in how we respond

Alone with God

2011-07-06T15:49:00.000+01:00

When Jacob struggled with God he was alone

God often comes to deal with us when we are alone

So don’t try to escape from those seasons

But instead look for God’s dealings with you in those times

Don’t miss what He wants to do with you - alone

Even if, like Jacob, your life is out-of-joint ever after

If God has touched you, your life will be enriched

He wants us to overcome and gain a victory

through those times of challenge

so ……… press on through, stick with it

until you get that breakthrough

And when you gain what you struggled for

continue to live in the fullness of that freedom

God’s Box

2011-05-24T16:39:00.000+01:00

When

the box that I’ve built

to define the things of God

breaks

it feels like

I’ve lost God

But …….. I haven’t lost God

Just the box !

Imagination or Memory

2011-05-18T15:19:00.002+01:00

Have you ever considered that you need to live out of your imagination / spirit

instead of out of your memory

Memory takes you back into routines

and tradition and the things you know

Imagination / spirit takes you forward

into unknown territory

and new experiences – with God

and requires “faith”

A quote that blessed me

2011-05-18T14:47:00.002+01:00

A waiting person is a patient person.

The word patience means

the willingness to stay where we are

and live the situation out to the full

in the belief that something hidden there

will manifest itself to us.

Mystery

2011-05-18T14:43:00.002+01:00

Mystery is not the absence of meaning

But …………..

The presence of more meaning than we can understand

And that is why God is a mystery to us

He is more than we can understand

My Frame of Reference

2011-05-18T14:38:00.000+01:00

Consider how easily we lose patience

with anything that doesn’t

manifest itself on our terms

And that is seen when we are

questionning of what God does

or how He does it

The Bible

2011-04-13T15:23:00.000+01:00

Is the Bible a code of practice

Or a tool for living

Does the Bible contain God

Does it reveal God

A Fresh Perspective

2011-04-13T14:19:00.002+01:00

Sometimes, all it takes is …..

a tiny shift of perspective

to see something familiar

in a totally new light

and……

if we have been walking with God

for many years it is easy to slip into familiarity

or to hold onto traditional thinking

when God would want to shine His light on the truth

and break it open to us with fresh revelation

So …….. don’t harden your mind

that God can’t break in with fresh revelation

the living Word He would want to give you for today

Something to think about !!

2010-12-21T11:20:00.001Z

If God spoke everything into being

by the power of His word -

Let there be light ......

and there was light

and so forth for all other elements of creation

Why ?

when He created man did He use something that already existed

...... dust ?

And then woman ......

was formed out of a part of Adam !!

Interesting thought to muse on

Re – stored 1

2010-12-14T11:48:00.000Z

Psalm 23 says He re- stores my soul

If you re- store an empty cupboard you put back and refill

what has become empty

And that is how I see it when He re-stores my soul

He puts back what has been lost or taken away

He refills what has been used up

He removes what is bad and re-stores with what is good

So ask Father to ……

Re-store your soul – from His treasury

from His storehouse

Restored 2

2010-12-14T11:47:00.001Z

There is also the understanding of

“restoration” or making good

And so

He restores what has been damaged or broken in our soul

He makes new

He makes good

Those things that have been damaged by life

Those parts that have been damaged by people

Allow Him to bring restoration to your soul

in a way that only He can

in a way that will last

My Mission in Life

2010-12-09T13:27:00.000Z

I have been sent from heaven to do a work here…..

before eventually returning to heaven

So ….

I need to keep in regular contact with home base

I need to refer back to the Head for …..

mission; assignments; on-going instructions

wisdom & knowledge in situations

and for relationship & spiritual sustenance

I’m on a mission from elsewhere & need to keep in contact

Preconceptions

2010-12-06T16:54:00.002Z

We all approach the Bible with certain preconceptions

dependent on our current thinking or doctrine

So …… we read the word and squeeze it to fit our doctrine

which isn’t helpful sometimes if our doctrine is a bit skew

In a similar way

If we do not carry grace and mercy in our hearts

then we will interpret the Word legalistically

to the letter of the law

as the Pharisees did with the woman taken in adultery

whereas Jesus, who carries grace & mercy in His heart,

approached her differently

And so ………..

How many people have been damaged over the years

by a legalistic use of the Word

rather than wrapping it in grace and mercy

before we deliver our judgement

Killing the Truth

2010-12-05T17:18:00.005Z

John 8 v 37 Jesus says to the people

And yet some of you are trying to kill me because

my message does not find a place in your hearts !!

and what is the parallel in our times?

We can’t literally kill Jesus but …….

He says, Himself, I AM THE TRUTH

and how many of us are guilty of trying to “kill the truth”

because it does not find a place in our hearts or in our doctrine Like the Pharisees we can hold so fast to our traditions,

doctrines and “constructed truth” that we won’t let go

and receive God’s word of truth or revelation for today

Many of our truths and doctrines were “constructed”

to fit man’s own agenda especially man’s need for control

So …. We have regular gatherings, in assigned buildings

with appointed leaders who feel safe as they keep control

But God is speaking a word today that we need to respond to

and let go of all the traditions that hold us back

A Channel

2010-12-05T17:02:00.000Z

A Christian is a channel for the nature of God

A mind through which Christ thinks.

A heart through which Christ loves.

A voice through which Christ speaks.

A hand through which Christ helps.

To be used

2010-12-05T17:00:00.000Z

Do not pray for the Lord to use you,

but pray that He will make you usable

We so easily say

Lord … I want to do this or that

I want to preach, I want to heal

Please use me

But we should better say

make me usable for what You want to do

But that means change and we don’t want to change

The Journey

2010-10-20T14:01:00.002+01:00

God doesn't promise a calm passage,

but ……. don’t worry

You are assured of a safe landing.

To see like Jesus

2010-10-08T11:34:00.000+01:00

John 1:17

For the law was given through Moses;

grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

The law says “Do not ……”

Grace & truth are different

John 2:10

The man said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

When the gusets were already drunk ……

Jesus gave them more wine !!!!

John 2:14-15

In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.

So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple

A church activity which probably benefitted many people who had no other way of obtaining a sacrifice for their worship

But …….. Jesus saw something deeper in the greed and deception that was going on

Would we close down Church activities today?

Or would we more likely refuse to give more wine to those who were already drunk?

Jesus works from a different basis and we need to connect with Him

We use the law more than we use grace & truth

The Power of Prayer

2010-09-23T11:43:00.000+01:00

Matt 6:10

Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth

as it is in heaven.

It’s through prayer ……

that we bring two worlds together

God’s world & this world

The spirtual realm & the physical realm

So that ……

The spiritual world can have an influence / impact

on where we are in this world

Preparing a Place for You

2010-09-09T15:16:00.000+01:00

In John 14 Jesus says – I go to prepare a place for you

And in the same way as natural parents prepare

a nursery for their expected child

with loving care & thought applied to every decision

and every detail

So Jesus is preparing a place for me

Unlike natural parents

who don’t know who they are preparing for

and what will best suit them

Jesus knows each one of us individually

He knows who He is preparing for

And so the place He prepares is custom-made

Uniquely planned to suit me exactly

He knows who I am & what I am like

And He prepares a place that will delight me

down to the finest details

when I finally enter the spiritual realm

He doesn’t owe us an explanation

2010-09-01T14:13:00.001+01:00

God doesn’t owe us an explanation

For what He does

He’s sovereign over all

He owes us nothing

Yet He has given us everything

If we receive the salvation He has offered

But don’t forget

He doesn’t owe us an explanation

For what He does

So just thank Him for His grace & mercy

When He does give us one

The Inner Man

2010-08-17T11:50:00.000+01:00

How does God develop the inner man?

I am thinking much of it happens through difficulty !!

Probably not what you wanted to hear though!!

We often run away from difficulty but ….

It is the way the Father develops us.

The Kingdom is within us

It is not seen outside - but inside

Many look for a physical kingdom & miss the real one

It is not made by the power of man but by the Spirit

The Kingdom is built from faith

The inner man is where the Kingdom is found

So …. How strong is the inner man ?

Does the inner man crumble with difficulties …

Or … maintain faith?

David said that even though he walked through the valley of the shadow of death he would not fear …

His inner man was strong

Mountains are moved by innner man not by muscles

By faith & not by sight

Where does our help come from

The God in the mountain (Psalm 121)

Or from muscles?

Why does so much trouble hit us sometimes?

Because Father wants us to know Him

The inner man is where the boldness is stored

And the confidence is given

When the mountains start to collapse the man of God

Is confident in his Father

Jeremiah 17 v 7

But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

whose confidence is in him.

He will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit.

Doing what is right

2010-08-17T11:32:00.000+01:00

A problem we often face is ….

We try to do what is right rather than what God wants

We easily become “people-pleasers”

But doing what is right opens the way for condemnation

Because …

we never really know what is the right thing to do

What is right to you ….

Is not always right to someone else

Culture, personal history, up-bringing etc

all complicate what is right

There is no rule that says you have to help people

It is the Spirit always

Not helping is sometimes the right thing to do

as it pushes people into God

and they have to trust Him for the answer

But also ..... helping is sometimes the right thing to do

as it cuts into our selfishness

Gal 5:25

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

John 5:19

Jesus gave them this answer:

"I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself;

He can do only what he sees his Father doing,

because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

The Answer - God

2010-08-16T17:19:00.000+01:00

Why are men still searching for the answer?

Why will they not just accept the truth?

That ……

God, Himself …..

is the key to the riddle of the Universe

They keep searching

but they won’t find another answer

God made man

2010-08-16T17:14:00.001+01:00

Have you ever considered ......

that when God made man

He made him a mixture of

..... dust and deity ......

which are you more aware of in yourself .....

the dust ?

or the deity?

Let God Have His Way

2010-08-03T11:48:00.000+01:00

We know how parents seek to bring some discipline or control into a child's life -

for the greater good of the child

and how Grandparents will often undermine them

by pleading on the child's behalf or

slipping the forbidden things to them

I think in a similar way

people will often - misguidedly - be like the grandparents

and interfere with what God is doing in someone's life

They will feed their weaknesses and indulge their sinful nature

out of a desire to help them escape tough situations

God gives us what we need

What He knows is best

What will refine us

Without indulging our sinful nature

Jesus is the Bread of Life

Spirit is River of Life

He will meet our hunger - He will satisfy our thirst

But ……. He will do it in a right way

Whereas people may do it in a wrong way - with the best of intentions

but still not the best from God's perspective

Prayer

2010-08-02T12:45:00.000+01:00

How do we learn not to pray with our own agenda

but to pray His agenda ?

To pray His purposes ?

Is it more about relationship than issues ?

Is it more about getting to know Father …..

rather than raising issues

and requesting the answer

from our perspective ?

Is it more about knowing things ….

from His perspective ?

I think so

Learn to live in stillness

2010-07-30T11:58:00.000+01:00

Learn to live in stillness
Learn to live in quietness
Learn to live in calm ….. in your inner being
no matter what is going on around
and you will find
that you will hear the voice of Father
much more easily

In the silence

2010-07-29T12:55:00.000+01:00

In the silence ……

I am building character I can trust

Hhmmm !!

A spiritual journey

2010-07-29T12:42:00.000+01:00

Do you sometimes wonder what your life is all about?

You feel you’re carrying something from God

There’s a message in your spirit

But you don’t see it’s outworking at the moment

Consider the possibility ……

Are you walking a spiritual journey

that hasn’t yet found

it’s physical expression in this place

Don’t despair - as in Hebrews 11

others have walked a similar pathway before

and those who hear the voice of God

will continue to do so in the future

It’s the way of the Father for the faithful

Heb 11:13

All these people were still living by faith when they died.

They did not receive the things promised;

they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.

And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

Eph 2:10

2010-07-29T12:31:00.000+01:00

We are created in Christ Jesus

to do good works,

which God prepared

in advance for us to do.

So …..

Rest in what I am doing

~ ~ ~

Not in what you want to do

A Quiet Retreat

2010-07-15T12:29:00.000+01:00

You're my place of quiet retreat;

I wait for your Word to renew me.

Psalm 119 v 113

What a refreshing verse

So ..... let's do it !!!

Go to that quiet retreat

and be renewed by His Word .... to you

A Poem for my mother

2010-06-28T09:15:00.000+01:00

She came too soon – she stayed too long

That was her own perception

But … the One who knows – the One who cares

Is right … with no exception

The body failed – The mind confused

A tangle of frustration

But sweet release – the time had come

She is a new creation

The room was done – the place prepared

The heavenly Host was drumming

He called her name – He called her home

And she replied I’m coming

So mind renewed – A body gained

And one that will not alter

The transfers done – she made it home

A place that will not falter

She’s found her peace ~ She’s found her rest

She’s free, without a care

Her future’s bright – her time is long

And if you go you’ll see her there

Freedom to Live

2010-06-23T14:43:00.003+01:00

So …how do you get release and freedom

from those things that bind you up?

Counselling? Prayer Ministry? Fasting?

Well … I have experienced something different

in God’s grace and diversity

My freedom came … through a sports massage!!

12yrs ago God’s word to me was ……

Relax and Enjoy Life !!

I carried it for 12yrs and sort to live it

but never made much progress

until … I needed a sports massage to relieve tension

in my shoulders, neck and back

The release of that tension … gained over many years

has left me in a new place of freedom

able to live the reality of ……relax and enjoy life

A physio was God’s tool to make that word a reality!!

So why didn’t God mention massage 12yrs ago?

Because I wouldn’t have heard it

It wasn’t what I did

But …… He got me there … I feel the release

Altho I’m sure there are further depths to go in relaxing

The journey has begun – I’m chilled out

Waiting for Jesus

2010-06-23T14:20:00.002+01:00

That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore

to wait for him.

But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back,

they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum.

Soon a gale swept down upon them,

and the sea grew very rough.

They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly

they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat.

They were terrified,

but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!

Then they were eager to let him in the boat,

and immediately they arrived at their destination!

So – let me paraphrase –

They went to the shore to wait for Jesus

They got fed up of waiting so…..

set off without Him

Hit a storm and were worried!!

Jesus didn’t calm the storm this time

instead He took them straight to their destination

How often do we get impatient waiting for Jesus to do something

Head off with our won plan

Hit our own storm & are very relieved when Jesus turns up

But …… how about ……

being more ready to wait His timing

and avoid some of the unnecessary storms

we bring upon ourselves

and then say - Why God?

Why did you let this happen !!

Be the People

2010-06-19T11:02:00.000+01:00

Be a people who call forth His purposes

Who usher in the kingdom

Who manifest Jesus to the world

Rooted in Jesus

2010-06-19T11:01:00.000+01:00

Colossians 2 v 7 encourages us to have our lives rooted in Jesus

And if we truly are rooted in Him

Drawing life and nourishment from

The River of Life

We won’t know healing-by- healing

But we will know health

We won’t know need-by-need being met

But we will know provision

It’s the difference between using a battery

Being connected to the source of the power

Creativity

2010-06-09T13:14:00.001+01:00

God is a God of creativity

From the very beginning …… from creation

until now

It is His nature

and ….. we are made in His image

So ……. creativity is in our nature

But do we give it room for expression

Do we walk in creativity

Or do we walk in …… predictability

Creativity is the ability to transcend traditional ideas

Rules and patterns

And to create meaningful new ideas or interpretations

To live from revelation and insight

Predictability is the antithesis of creativity

Do You Know?

2010-06-08T10:36:00.000+01:00

Do you know that you were carefully & lovingly made?

That the Father put within you all that He wanted

to satisfy Himself & Jesus in that portion of His creation

That you are what you are because He desires to enjoy

what you are

and that when He made you, He looked …..

and He saw …..

that it was good

So live in His delight of you and rejoice with Him

God ways -vs- Secular ways

2010-05-03T15:28:00.002+01:00

Few people take their problems first to God

before going to the secular places of “wisdom”.

If we have a cold ….

the first place to go is the doctor’s surgery.

If we need money ……

the bank will give a loan.

Whatever the problem

there is a secular answer

that offers instant solutions

rather than the patient waiting on God.

God uses many problems in our lives

in order to mould us into a unique shape.

We create a different shape from His desired option

by finding our secular answers.

Where am I living from?

2010-05-03T14:44:00.002+01:00

Living from myself …….

causes me to be brought down

by my own inadequacies; concerns and anixieties

Living from within …….

from the Spirit

or from God’s fullness within me

connects me to all of Him

that is invested in me

Phil 4:13

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Relationship with God

2010-05-02T16:36:00.002+01:00

Why ? …… has the relationship with God

become a system; an institution; an organisation

with doctrines; agendas; mission statements

so defined; proscribed; rational and mind-based

Jesus died ……

to restore relationship with the Father

so ……

Why ? has the relationship with God

become a system; …… etc

Music

2010-04-29T16:52:00.002+01:00

Music creates or takes us to

another dimension

It is a tool or channel for something more

of a spiritual dimension

so that …..

sometimes as we listen to it

we become less aware of the music

and more aware of the spiritual dimension

that it has taken us to

It carries the echo of another world

Do you hear it ?

Consider 2

2010-04-28T13:22:00.002+01:00

Consider the thought …….

God is bigger than His Book

The Bible does not contain Him ….

But it does reveal Him

Consider 1

2010-04-27T12:43:00.000+01:00

Consider the thought …….

While God will not go against …

His word

He will often go against …

Our understanding of His Word

Psalm 23

2010-04-24T18:38:00.000+01:00

Psalm 23 was written

from the perspective of a shepherd

because ……

that is what David was

that is what he related to

that is what he identified with

so ……

what would be a reflective Psalm

from your perspective

what slant would it have

what feel would it have

The Lord is my …… what?

We so easily use David’s psalms

but how much better to have our own

After all ……

we should all be able to express

something of our relationship with Father

So ...... give it a try

Write your own Psalm

and see what it says

Christ in the World

2010-04-21T11:58:00.003+01:00

Christ lives in me

and wants to be evident through my life

by …. what I do & how I live

To be manifest through me …..

to the world

So I need to yield to Him

submit to His plans

hear what He is saying

and to respond & obey

so that …. I will be

the visible image

of the invisible God

Death

2010-04-19T12:27:00.003+01:00

Death …….

Removes people from this sphere of existence

For a Christian ……

no illness is terminal

because ……

terminal means …. the end of the line !!

whereas ….

for a Christian

it’s just a point of transition

a point of exchange

A Restless Place

2010-04-18T18:47:00.000+01:00

Is your mind a restless place ?

Do you have thoughts flitting here & there

darting around your mind in a random fashion ?

With no focus; no control; no discipline ?

A restless place ?

Rest – less hhmmm!!

If we know His peace and rest in our lives

and in our mind

then we will know it as a restful place

with harmony & pattern

focussed thoughts

and a place of stillness

Where Christ enjoys to dwell

Rather than a place where He is bombarded

with an overload of erratic thoughts

BE STILL - and know …… that He is God

Delayed Answers to Prayer

2010-04-16T13:42:00.000+01:00

Might I suggest

Delayed answers to prayer ……

are not refusals necessarily

Many prayers are received and recorded

with a note saying

“My time has not yet come”

Kingdom –v- World

2010-04-15T09:07:00.000+01:00

Are we seeking to change the world

See a stronger Kingdom established??

Kingdom Currency

2010-04-12T09:06:00.002+01:00

The currency of the world

is money

but ……

the currency of the Kingdom

is faith

What currency are you most familiar with?

Walking in Wisdom

2010-04-11T16:18:00.004+01:00

When we walk in wisdom ......

we mirror the reality of heaven ......

here on earth

His nature or mine?

2010-04-10T17:32:00.002+01:00

Many of us develop our Christian lives

along the lines of our own nature

rather than

along the lines of God’s nature

But there is hope in 2 Cor 3:18

for …… if we are willing

He is wanting to transform us into His image

To do His Will

2010-04-09T09:38:00.002+01:00

We sometimes live our lives as if ……

Jesus is there to assist us in our labours

rather than …….

us do His bidding

Our labours will eventually be burnt up

like wood, hay and straw

(1 Corinthians 3)

so why labour in vain?

His bidding will become as treasure

laid up in heaven as a firm foundation

for us, in the coming age

(1 Timothy 6)

A Gift

2010-04-08T13:18:00.000+01:00

When I was born God put something into my hand

into my heart ……

He put a gift for me to use

in whatever I choose

The gift ?

………a life

To do with as I choose

So how do I choose to use that life?

Do I have my own plans; My own agendas

My own ways

that I ask Him to smile on and bless

Or have I handed it back to Him

and said I am Yours

Use me in whatever way You want to

to fulfil the eternal plans in Your heart

Let me be a part of what You are doing

and not ask You to be a part of what I am doing

God in Us

2010-04-07T12:28:00.003+01:00

We sometimes find it hard to understand

the concept of - God in me

But I had some measure of understanding

as I looked at a photo of my 5 daughters.

I was going to use it as my profile picture on Facebook !!

Then thought – but that’s not me ……!!

But …… on further thinking

I thought …

In some way – it is me …

because …… they are a part of me

they are a combination of my husband & myself

reflecting us in diversity

as each one is different in looks and ways

And so ……I could see how

in some parallel way

God can be in each of us

Restored to God’s Original Image

2010-04-05T17:56:00.000+01:00

In Romans 3 it tells us

we have been restored to where God

always wanted us to be …..

through Jesus …….

He always wanted us to be …….

In right relationship with Him

Bearing His nature and character

Involved in His eternal plans

When we struggle with this we need to turn ……

to Jesus

for He says ……. It’s OK

I am the Way

I am the truth

I am the life

As we reach out to Him …….

He will restore the balance of

relationship; character; the eternal plan

for He restored us there in the first place

Challenges & Problems

2010-04-05T17:45:00.000+01:00

How do you view the challenges & problems

we face day to day ?

Do you view them from earth’s limitations

Or ……..

do you see them from God’s perspective

with the back-up of

Heaven’s unlimitied power ?

You will feel weighed down if you only see …

earth’s limitations

but ……

you will have faith to overcome

when you believe that Heaven’s power is there for you

Entrenched

2010-03-24T14:05:00.002Z

Many people have become entrenched

in the wrong model of church

Believing that its hundreds of years of history

make it right.

The only thing that makes anything right

Is the breath of God blowing through it

The Word of God speaking into it

The will of God for each day

Gal 5:25

Let us keep in step with the Spirit

Not the ways of man

Acts of Power

2010-03-24T13:49:00.002Z

We may wonder why we don’t see as many

“acts of power” as the apostles did

But …… may I suggest that

we need to be more sensitive to God’s timing

more aware of God’s involvement.

May I suggest that we too easily move …

ahead of time

and go forth in self effort

fuelled by emotions or good intentions.

Jesus said ….. He only did

what He saw His Father doing

and so ….. when His mother asked Him

to help at the wedding when they ran out of wine

He didn’t act immediately

but waited until He knew God’s involvement

in the situation

When He heard Lazarus was ill

He didn’t act immediately

But waited until He saw God raising from the dead

rather than healing

Osmosis

2010-03-24T13:35:00.003Z

Osmosis is the passage of water from a region of high water concentration
through a semi-permeable membrane
to a region of low water concentration

The fuller passes to the lesser / drier

So ……..

As I sit with God ……

His fullness just filters into my dryness / emptiness

and fills me up

as I soak in Him

His life ….. just flows into me

as I rest in His presence

Misunderstanding

2010-03-17T16:01:00.000Z

Mis-understanding means ……

we have missed the understanding

from His perspective.

We so easily forget that our understanding

is flawed by our fleshly thinking

and that

His understanding is powered by faith

Doctrine

2010-03-17T15:16:00.000Z

Doctrine ……

Is man’s attempt to define God & His ways

And God isn’t to be defined

or confined by man

God is I AM

I AM what I will be

Not what man tells Him to be

So …….

2010-03-10T13:49:00.001Z

So …… God loves me ……

because of who He is

So ……

It’s not dependent on me at all

but ……

on His faithfulness & covenant – keeping nature

and so ……

all our situations & circumstances

should be viewed from that perspective

How …… is God’s love for me seen

in this situation

in every situation

It’s easier to walk the tough times

when we allow God’s love to wrap around them

the choice is ours

Don’t let your questions, doubts or frustrations

rob you of the peace that His love brings