He showed them the full extent of his love... John 13:1

Jesus repeatedly revealed the extent, or length of his love. And Scripture says it all centres on the words ‘he humbled himself.’

He divested himself of his glory, his rights, his prerogatives as God and instead wrapped himself in a human form. He humbled himself to become like us in every way.

He was born in a cow shed to a peasant couple. Much of his early life was hidden in Egypt. He touched the leper, he ate with notorious sinners, and prostitutes were his friends. He did not need to appear ‘significant.’ He already knew he was.

He washed the dirty feet of his bickering disciples – divesting himself of his role as Master, and taking the place of a slave.

He was stripped and tortured, all dignity shredded and tossed aside. He humbled himself to death – even the shameful death on a cross.

How could he do this? What brought him to pay such a price?

1. He was full of intense compassion for the Father’s lost sons and daughters and would do whatever it took to bring them home.
2. He trusted absolutely the Father’s wisdom and his plan of redemption - and his own part in it. His sense of purpose allowed no self-interest.
3. He knew he was beloved by his Father, and he would never lose that love, whatever others did to him.

Humility is a beautiful thing. It is a gift we will need from Jesus in order to touch the world with redemptive love as he did.

"Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself one way or the other at all." William Temple

A new revival in Wales?

We have been away for 6 weeks in the UK, and spent 9 days in Wales.

To get an understanding of the retreat centre and what God has been doing – go to their website  www.ffald-y-brenin.org and read the blog for current stories – and order the book ‘The Grace Outpouring’ to get the unfolding of the story.

I was impressed by the sense of the land as a place that can be ‘sacred’ – that can be affected by the prayers of people. It felt an awesome thing to walk on land saturated with prayer for at least 11centuries. The hill just above Ffald-y-Brenin is recorded as being a place of intercession for one of the 9th Century men of God.

Parallel with this was the understanding through Russ Parker of how sites of great evil done need repentance and cleansing, and forgiveness and healing, and people can represent former generations in doing this. Russ told astonishing stories of this happening. ( See the website www.acornchristian.org for info and his books.) Their work speaks deeply of the power of the cross to heal historical wounds and divisions in families and nations.

As we sat in the little Hermitage by a log fire and read of the Welsh revival we rejoiced and wept with the wonder of what God can do when he really comes in his full glory and wondered why we settle for so much less as the norm. It felt deeply moving to be in the very land where such things happened – and some not many miles away. It stirred a deep hunger in me to be part of such revelations of his power to transform lives. (We have had a little taste of this 3 times in the past).

As we read again the story of what God is doing at Ffald-y-Brenin – actually on site – we were deeply impressed at how simply it is happening – without any drama or even intense praying. People today are still experiencing miracles just by being there, with very little ‘ministry’ and no counselling. It is clear that the presence and power of God is just ‘there’. And it is continually present because Roy and Daphne Godwin and the team keep close to the Lord, hear his voice, and do what he says. All has unfolded because of those simple things. They prayed through the property as the Lord directed (“pressing the blood of Jesus into walls and ceilings and the land”) - they set up a rhythm of prayer – they established the high cross exactly as directed and miracles started happening immediately there.

And Roy keeps saying that this is not due to any intense endeavours, but simple walking in faith and obedience and joy. There is an incredibly relaxed and joyful atmosphere there. People come in grief and pain and ‘go out in joy. He also said that people urged him to set up a 24/7 style of prayer and he realised they did not have the people to do it… and came to the conclusion that we should all have ‘a rhythm of prayer you can live with.’ How freeing! They did not always appear at the prayer times – but some staff were always there to lead it.

A recent healing that happened was of a vicar who drove up, parked his car, walked out to pray at the cross for a while, then hopped into his car and left. (Often the staff don’t know what God has done until people email or phone back) A few days later he phoned to say that as he showered that night his skin cancer just dropped off! A friend confirmed the story and said his skin is pink and new like a baby’s.

One nationally known intercessor comes every year with a team to wait on the Lord, and one day she was in the prayer room alone and felt overcome by the Lord’s presence. Later she opened her eyes to see a very tattered looking angel standing there – and she was uncertain if this was good or bad! She asked him ‘Who are you?’ He said he was part of the group assigned to protect this area and had been in a battle recently. Clearly the Lord is ‘on the case’.

We felt led to pray for our life situations, our children, grandchildren and the wider family, and left pictures and tokens of them in the places where miracles are occurring. Within days two specific prayers have been answered. We fully anticipate more.

The worship team we had at the weekend conference are called ‘The Sound of Wales’ and they are deeply conscious of their spiritual inheritance and they want to share it with the nations, and have already been to Canada and Europe. They are intercessor musicians and often led us into prayer as we sang together. It was powerful, with a mix of old hymns and contemporary songs. www.sowmusic.co.uk I felt prompted to give the lead singer Cath a NZ necklace with paua shell in it, and ask her to wear it at times when they prayed and sang – and I said to her, ‘New Zealand will hear it’. We were both deeply moved and she said she would be honoured to do it.

We also left two pieces of paua shell at Ffald-y-Brenin, with much prayer, one in the cleft of the big rock in the special little chapel (I kept singing ‘He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock…’ when I was in there), and another at the high cross. It feels like NZ is linked to this place of revival.

On the Tuesday there was a ‘prayer day’ which is held monthly down the road at a bigger venue at one of the valley churches – Jabes Chapel. About 120 people gathered for 6-7 hours of testimonies, worship, intercession and a brief teaching and then ministry time. We heard an amazing story (it is on their blog) of a woman from Cardiff who was brought about a year ago I think, as her dying wish. I talked to her later and she said she’d had MS and her organs were failing. She was about late 30s.

The doctors said they did not feel she would survive the 2 hour journey, her heart was so weak… but she insisted on going. They laid her on the back seat – fully expecting her to be dead before they got there – but her heart improved to the extent that she could walk with assistance into the prayer room when they got there. As they blessed her and then had their usual prayers she improved further, and a few days later was perfectly normal! The doctors are astounded, of course. She and her hubby now run a mission and shelter for street people in Cardiff and pray for healing and often see it. People are finding the power of Jesus to transform lives through them.

We were privileged to see and be a small part of another transformation. A woman called Rita in her 50s was at the retreat centre for a few days. She had brought her downs syndrome adult son along. We were touched by them, by his sincere efforts to join in the songs and readings, and by her obvious brokenness and need. On the Friday morning I sat next to her and was prompted to give her my lovely warm, fluffy NZ scarf, and I draped it round her neck and said, ‘Jesus wants to wrap you up in his love.’ She said, ‘Thank you… I need that.’ Later we learnt that she was desperate to go to the conference starting that evening, and 3 hours before it was due, a cancellation enabled them both to have accommodation and a seat at the conference. On the Sunday morning she gave a glowing testimony.
She said he had experienced much abuse as a child and spent many years trying to ‘get her self right’. And finally came, out of desperation, to the centre. Yesterday she had realised how much anger and hurt she still had and was able to forgive and let it go, and someone prayed and set her free. Then that night she lay on her bed and praised the Lord she found she was singing to him. As a 4 year old her father had put a rope round her neck and hung her up to die – but she was rescued. Ever since she has had a damaged throat, a croaky voice, and been unable to sing. But she had been healed even of that and could sing again. She was bathed in the love of Jesus and has been ever since! David said to me ‘You realise you put round her neck that soft, warm scarf!’ Wow, it was clearly a prophetic act that I did not realise at the time. What a privilege!


Two other realisations have come to us. One is the simplicity of ‘the Kingdom’. It is simply about the presence and power of the King to bring life - his loving order and well-being to people, situations and even the land. We are to walk in this reality. He is here – we are in him – the Kingdom is among us – within us. I feel that has settled deep within us as never before.

Another is the power of blessing. The main prayer that is prayed at Ffald-y-Brenin (apart from praise and thanksgiving) is to simply bless others, with the authority Jesus gives us. And impossible things happen as a result. I have found it causes joy to rise from within to just speak blessing on anyone, anytime, in trains, on the street, looking out the window. It is clearly what we were created to do. Speak life… not complain, or criticise or demand or analyse. Again, so simple, but so profound. Even to speak blessing on our own bodies and minds to be in tune with God, and be healthy and strong. We are exploring this more and more.

Tell you more next time...

Sowing and reaping love

I am reading an incredibly insightful book. It is about recognising and dealing with offence. Let me give you some quotes as a taster - then go buy it!
"An offended Christian is one who takes in life but, because of fear, cannot release it."
Offense causes agape love to grow cold. "We need to develop faith in the love of God " and how it works.
"You need to realise that when you sow the love of God you WILL reap the love of God. You need to develop faith in this spiritual law - even thought you may not harvest it from the field in which you sowed, or a quickly as you would like."
When Jesus died he freely forgave all who contributed to his death. Because he had faith in the Father's love!
"I knew that because I had sown love, I would reap love from many sons and daughters of the Kingdom. Because of my sacrifice of love, they would love me."
"No longer did I (the author) see it as a failure when love wasn't returned from the person I was giving it to. It freed me to love that person even more! If more Christians recognised this, they wouldn't give up and become offended. Usually this is not the type of love we walk in. We walk in a selfish love that is easily disappointed when our expectations are not met."
"If I have no expectations about someone, anything given is a blessing and not something owed. We set ourselves up for offense when we require certain behaiours from those with whom we have relationships. The more we expect, the greater the potential for offense."p. 15-16 "The Bait of Satan - Living Free from the deadly trap of offense." John Bevere

A captivated heart

“Reign in me, Sovereign Lord, reign in me… Captivate my heart; let your Kingdom come… Establish there your throne; let your will be done…”

We sang this chorus last week and it has stayed in me for days. What is a captivated heart? We see them often – the doting grandparents, delighting in their sweet grandchild – a man with his Harley-Davidson or Jaguar – a sportsman who is totally focused on the game… We were clearly created to be ‘captivated’ by something. It makes us come alive. It brings us great delight. It concentrates our mind. It simplifies our choices. Another word like it would be ‘obsessed’ – so hooked into something that it is all we think about or talk about. We would consider that unhealthy or unbalanced, or even addicted. Food, caffeine, alcohol, fitness, sport, technology, perfectionism…

A heart captivated by God is actually a beautiful thing – and we were designed to be like this. It is how his life flows into us. Think of the Vine and the branches. Branches are only alive if they are ‘hooked into’ the vine, and only produce fruit as they draw from the vine. We too often feel or think of ourselves as separate to Him, and needing to keep doing things to ‘make him real’ to us. The new life we received when we gave our whole lives over to him is actually Jesus in us, loving the Father and receiving from the Spirit. HE lives a life captivated by the Father’s love. So let us ask him to share with us his ‘captivated heart’ that is completely focussed on pleasing the Father and receiving all he needs from him. When this love pervades our mind and heart and will and emotions – we will know what it is to be captivated by him.

We will find ourselves in a constant conversation with him – sometimes joyful and thankful, sometimes sharing our heartache. At other times delighting in the goodness in people all around us as he does, and getting a sense of what he wants us to do for him each day. Jesus said that our joy would be ‘full’, as we received his joy. (John 15:11) It is the joy of pleasing the Father and soaking up his love. Such is a captivated heart. May it be ours.

Off-loading offence

I have been chewing on the power of 'being offended' to rob us of so much. We may have concerns, questions, disappointment about situations and people... but when we become deeply offended all sorts of mayhem starts to muddy the waters.
Because offence is a matter of a heart condition - and you can talk all you want to try and unravel misunderstanding, or ask all your questions and get clear answers, or receive apologies till the cows come home.... and you can still feel the same heavy, painful, sticky, yukky, angry, tear-inducing, stomach-churning feelings of offense. And your head never stops hashing things over and over.

Offense has many friends that all decide to pile in and invade our hearts. There is anger and resentment. There is disortion and fear. There is blame and accusation. And judgements, deciding we know a person's motive and meaning. Then the inability to see any good in others. We can also slide into self-pity, justification, arguments... and so it goes on and on. The enemy has a field day!

It dawned on me recently that 'offence' is a weight we need not carry, because it is one of those things Jesus carried to the cross so we can be set free from it. He did not die for our differences of opinion, or the various ways we view life, or the values we hold dear that can be trampled on by others... But he did die for us to have in exchange for our hurt a free and joyful and loving heart. And offence robs us of that completely.

We have got the idea that if only 'they' would only say the right things - or assure us they will never hurt us again... then we will feel free and feel OK again. This is a misconception of how it all works. Only Jesus can heal our wounded hearts, and take the weight of offence and hurt off us. When we say "I can never forgive them... what they did to me was so painful," we are pushing Jesus away and saying "You have nothing to offer me..." This is part of the blinding effect that offence can have on us. We get fixated on 'them' and lose sight of the Lord and all he is wanting to give to us at this time. And our enemy rubs his hands in glee.

Offense can be laid down - thrown off. Hebrew 12: 1 says, "Let us throw off everything that hinders...and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Offence is heavy and confusing and blinding. If we do not throw it off we will stagger off the path and get lost. We can off-load offence by forgiving others and renouncing offence and asking for the grace to accept the weakness and sin and frailties of others. Most of what is thrown at us in life is out of the hurt and sinfulness of others. It is not simply maliciousness. People react out of their hurt and offence.

I have of late decided to REFUSE to be offended any more and to bring all the hurt or confusion to the Lord and ask him to be my comforter and healer. I can never get wisdom and direction for dealing with misunderstandings through holding onto offence. Whenever I find it in me I ask the question, "Where did this pain first start...? Lord show me the root." It could be years back. It is often a sign of a deep fear. I fear I will lose something precious to me.

Another truth I use to ward off offence is to declare, "God intends good to me all the time." He says he will NEVER stop doing me good. There is always good for me in this situation, and good for the other people involved if only we will seek for it and lay aside our offense and hurt.

Father of compassion, God of all mercy and grace... thank you that Jesus bore for me all the offences and hurts I will ever encounter. There is no pain I experience that he did not take to the cross. I ask for your healing of my wounded heart. I freely forgive those who have hurt and offended me... I pray the prayer that Jesus prayed, "Father forgive them... and I too forgive them... they know not what they do."
I renounce offense and all it's friends and tell you to leave me in Jesus name. I will not entertain you any longer. The blood of Jesus cleanses my heart and my mind, my emotions and my imagination.
Thank you Jesus. Now I ask for your insight and wisdom into this situation. And I anticipate your goodness flowing into my life and washing over the others involved. DO US ALL GOOD as we look to you alone to bring resolution.
In Jesus' name .... and for his glory.

The Singing Dad

by Mark Stibbe http://www.fathershousetrust.com/blog/59  Tue 31st January 2012

If I was given £5 for every time I’ve heard someone quoting Zephaniah 3.17, I reckon I’d be a rich man by now. Time and again I’ve heard people recite these memorable words from the Old Testament:

“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Reading that, it’s no surprise it’s quoted so often! There’s so much to love here.
I love the fact that my God is with me, that he is not a remote deity whose absence is keenly felt but rather a loving Father whose presence is easily accessed.
I love the fact that God is described as a heavenly warrior and that I therefore have a Dad in heaven that not only looks out for me but fights for me and rescues me from my enemies.
I love the fact that my heavenly Father takes great delight in me – that his word over me is, ‘you are my son, my chosen one, and in you I take great pleasure’.
I love the fact that my heavenly Dad no longer rebukes me – that he’s not mad with me anymore because his Son Jesus bore my punishment at Calvary.

But most of all, more than any of these momentous truths, I love the fact that I have a Father in heaven that rejoices over me and literally ‘spins around’ with singing.
Could there be a more encouraging thought than that?
And could there be a more thought-provoking one?

You see, many of us are used to the idea of us being the ones who sing to the Father. This is what Christians do both individually and corporately in worship. We express our adoration to the Father in songs that address him directly or that declare the limitless landscape of his love. This is a choice, a delight, a lifestyle. We sing love songs to the relentlessly affectionate Dad revealed in Jesus. We compose and express songs in the image of a music-making Father.

All this is good but Zephaniah 3.17 offers us an even better picture. It shows us the Father is singing to us and indeed over us! In Zephaniah’s prophetic vision, it is no longer our songs which ascend to heaven. It is his songs which descend to earth.
And that’s the exact opposite of what we normally think!

Indeed, Zephaniah 3.17 points to an aspect of God’s nature which is fascinating to me. It shows that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is a singing Dad – a Dad who fills the earth and the galaxies with his music and who sings love songs over his children.
I remember the first time I read C.S. Lewis’ story, The Magician’s Nephew, and I came across Lewis’ description of the creation of Narnia in chapters 8 and 9. I was moved then and I am moved now by the way in which Aslan the Lion creates the universe through song. A boy called Digory hears it:

“In the darkness something was happening at last. A voice had begun to sing. It seemed to come from all directions at once. Its lower notes were deep enough to be the voice of the earth herself. There were no words. There was hardly even a tune. But it was beyond comparison, the most beautiful noise he had ever heard. It was so beautiful Digory could hardly bear it”.

C.S. Lewis was of course writing children’s fantasy when he conceived of a singing, lyrical Creator.

But it seems today as if science is beginning to give fuller voice to what stories like this have depicted.

For example, some scientists argue that 'the universe is composed not of matter but of music' (Dr Donald Hatch). They propose - that everything in our universe is made up of certain types of waves or pulsing vibration.
The branch of quantum physics known as ‘Super String Theory’ goes even further, stating that particles function like the musical notes of elementary strings. Particles are like strings stretched down the frets of a guitar which, at a certain tension, produce musical notes when plucked. The only difference with elementary particles is that they are not tied to anything as guitar strings are. They float in space-time and yet, like strings, they are stretched out and have a tension which produces the equivalent of music!

Could it be that science is starting to confirm what story and Scripture celebrate – that the whole world is in fact the Creator’s song? To be sure, these things are a mystery. As God says in The Book of Job Chapter 38 v4-7:
"Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.

Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!  Who stretched a measuring line across it?

On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— while the morning stars sang together

and all the angels shouted for joy?

We weren’t there at the beginning. And yet the Scriptures say that the morning stars sang together when the universe was formed. And they clearly reveal that the Father who created the universe to the sound of music has not stopped being musical – that indeed he rejoices over his children with singing.

What a thought that is!
Having said all that, I can’t finish there because I believe the Father sings another kind of song as well. Not just a song over the children he’s adopted. But a song over the spiritual orphans who are still to find their way home into his arms. Not a song in a major key … but a lament in a minor key.

One of my favourite films is called ‘August Rush’. It’s all about an 11 year old orphan who is a musical genius. His biological father and mother are very gifted musicians – his dad is a rock singer and his mum a virtuoso cello player. At the very beginning, we hear August Rush saying the following:

‘Listen. Can you hear it - the music? I can hear it everywhere, in the wind, in the air, in the light. It’s all around us. All you have to do is open yourself up. All you have to do is listen’.

As August grows up, people try to stop him composing and playing his music. But August presses on, convinced that if he can learn how to play the guitar really well his parents will one day hear him and know he is theirs and find him.

As August says,
‘Sometimes the world tries to knock it out of you but I believe in music the way that some people believe in fairy tales. I like to imagine that what I hear came from my mother and my father. Maybe the notes I hear are the same ones they hear. Maybe that’s how they found each other. Maybe that’s how they’ll find me’.

As August continues his journey he makes friends with another orphan called Arthur. He too is musical. One day they go into a park and Arthur begins to sing a song to the public passing by:

‘Father, hear me when I call your name.
I need you to answer me now.
Father, here I am, weak in your sight.
Can you rescue me now?
I’m crying out – I can’t figure it out on my own’.

I remember the first time I saw August Rush I was overwhelmed by this song. It’s not clear whether Arthur is appealing to his earthly father or to God as his heavenly Father. There is an intentional and powerful ambiguity here. But one thing is clear. The film encourages us to believe in a spiritual dimension to life. As Wizard (acted by Robin Williams) says to August,

‘Do you know what music is? It is God’s reminder that there’s something else besides us in this universe’.

There are many reasons why I appreciate this film but one of the main ones is because I too was an orphan and the only thing I really know about my biological parents is that they were extremely musical.

Another reason why I love August Rush is because it feels to me like a parable – a down to earth story with a big spiritual idea. The Bible teaches us that the world is full of spiritual orphans who don’t know their heavenly Father. It is full of people who don’t know that they have a Dad in heaven who created the universe to the sound of music and who wants to rejoice over them with a happy song. It is full of orphans like Arthur who are singing a song of anguish to their Father, longing for home.

It is full of boys and girls like August Rush who are trying to sing their way back to the divine Music Maker. It is full of lost souls who are longing to be found.

Perhaps the most emotive word in the whole movie is a word uttered by August in response to a question posed by Wizard (a kind of modern day Artful Dodger).

‘What do you want to be in the world? I mean the whole world. What do you want to be? Close your eyes and think about that’.

August replies, ‘Found’.

So many people in this orphan generation long to be ‘found’. The good news is that we have a Father in heaven who has intentionally pursued us in love through his Son, Jesus Christ. This Father hears our songs – both our joyful and our melancholy songs.
He understands song because he invented it.
He created the universe through song.
He calls to his children today through the sound of music.
He sings with joy over those that were once lost but now are found.
And he sings to the many orphans who have yet to find their way home.

At the beginning of this New Year, let’s listen out for the Father’s song.

Let’s respond to his rejoicing with our own rejoicing.
Let’s learn to worship the Father who holds the universe together with music and who calls to the lost with the haunting melody of the love of all loves.

(Check out more of Mark’s blogs – they are very thought provoking)

Partnering with the Prince of Peace

 I was exploring Isaiah 9:6-7a. Very well known words, especially at Christmas time.
For to us a child is born ….. this is his humanity – the child of Mary.
To us a son is given ….. his divinity – the Son of God
And the government will be on his shoulders ….. he will rule
And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor…His unrivalled insight and wisdom
Mighty God …. His authority and power
Everlasting Father …. His eternal unity with the Father
Prince of Peace …. He rules with his peace, his shalom.
And of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end.

(His peaceful rule will constantly expand and never come to an end.)

1. We see Jesus in the Gospels revealing all these aspects with his understanding, his wisdom, his compassion. Then his power over nature and sickness. His partnership and oneness with the Father. And then how he brings peace, to storms, to hearts, to our relationship with the Father through his sacrifice.

2. Then Jesus began to look for those who would partner in his rule of peace. He did not intend to do it all alone.
3. He called disciples – but they didn’t do this partnership thing very well.

a) When a village rejected Jesus, James and John said ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to destroy them!’ They did not understand his rule of peace and love.

b) Jesus and the disciples are on the Lake in a storm. Their boat is in danger of being swamped. The disciples were terrified. But they did not wake him up and simply ask for help – they accused him of neglect. “Don’t you care if we drown!” Fear makes room for 'the accuser' in our hearts.

c) Peter became ‘a stumbling block’ to Jesus because of his fear of Jesus being killed. Peter has just declared that Jesus is the Christ, then after Jesus warns them of his coming suffering, he dogmatically says to Jesus "This will never happen to you!"  Fear leads to dogmatic declarations.

d) Martha had The Prince of peace there in her home – but she was in distress and anger. She omitted to consult him.

4. In a debate about eating meat given to idols Paul wrote (Rom.14 v.17) “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Whatever confuses or disturbs us could be inserted in that statement. "The Kingdom of God is not a matter of ......................... but righteousness (with God through Christ), peace (with God, and the peace OF God) and joy in the Holy Spirit."

Col. 3:15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.”

A major sign of the Kingdom is peace … When we walk with the Prince of Peace - peace of mind, peace in our relationships will be our normal state.

5. Jesus constantly said ‘Fear not – do not be afraid.’ Fear is the greatest enemy to walking with the Prince of Peace. We go into fear because we do not feel safe.

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” - ie not depending on circumstances and temporary solutions.

If what is outside of us determines our state of mind and heart – then we are in a perilous condition. We will never feel really safe, never be regularly at peace.

What would change for us if we kept asking – “Lord, give me your peace – because I don’t have mine?”

Soaking in his mercy

I have been pondering the place of mercy in our lives. We are urged to 'love mercy' (but I think we love justice more??), to 'be merciful as your Father in heaven is merciful'. And that familiar passage in Romans 12 starts 'In view of the mercy of God - offer yourselves as living sacrifices.' My respose to this is to ask, "What is our view of the mercy of God?"

Unless we know how terrible is our fate without his mercy, we cannot appreciate how crucial and wonderful his mercy is. The fact is we do not deserve mercy. The consequence of our disdain and neglect of God is to be cut off from him and all that is good and lovely and right. We have such a benign view of what sin does in this age. But WE HAVE RECEIVED MERCY! That is stupendous and overwhelming and incredible. It says everything about him, and nothing about us.

An amazement at his mercy will melt our hearts, and soak us with gratitude. And the response of our heart will be to 'offer ourselves' to him without reservation. For we cannot surrender to one who we do not trust. But it is a delight to surrender to one who treats us with such loving-kindness, such tenderness, such intense compassion. We are safe in such merciful hands.

How will we know if we rest in his mercy? We will not hesitate to respond to him. He will not be a 'threatening judge' but a loving Father. We will find our hearts soaking in that tender loving-kindness. It will marinate our hearts and change the way we view our life, our world. We will view others with mercy and compassion. We will not judge or condemn or crush others. We will see past the hard shell to the wounded heart and the longing for tender love.

Ponder often on how kind he is, how loving he is, how merciful he has been.
"He does not count our sins against us." He has so ordained it that the death of Jesus paid for ALL our sin, past present and future.

Psalm 143:9-10 says "I remember the days of old, I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder on the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land."
Remember...
Meditate...
Ponder...
Stretch out your hands...
Thirst for him...                          
We can do that - anytime - anyday. And a sense of his great mercy will wash over us, and gratitude and grace and blessing will flow. How wonderful.

You are honoured in my sight

As I was reading this passage again on Friday something struck me as peculiar.
Vs 4 “you are precious and honoured in my sight, and I love you.”

It struck me that God is saying this to his people Israel who have failed him over and over again. How can he say this to them… or to us?
You are precious – extremely valuable to me…and honoured ? Held in high esteem? Really?

I kept asking the Lord – what does this mean? And I felt him say..”This is not about behaviour or performance. That has all been dealt with in Jesus. It is about what you carry.”

Every human being has been created in the image of God. Yes, it was broken and marred. But he still honours what he has put within us as his creation. CS Lewis famously said: “Every time you meet another human being you should imagine a large angel walking in front of them calling out “Make way for the image of God!” An astounding picture….

He honours his own image in us.
He honours what we carry of his work of grace in us and his new life in us.
He honours the potential he gave us to bring life and beauty and order and joy to others.
He honours our deep heart intentions and longings, however feeble our attempts are.
He honours the fact we hang on in dark and difficult times…
He honours our care and love for others.

“You are precious and honoured in my sight… and I love you..”

A few weeks ago I struggled to make a phone call to see someone in Wellington.
I didn’t know them but I needed to make a connection with them. I kept putting it off again and again.
I asked myself why? And then realized I was afraid – afraid of messing this up… afraid of not explaining myself properly, not being received and listened to and understood.
This was an old wound reverberating, from old words of dishonour and ridicule in early years.
Many of us… probably all of us need to hear these wonderful words to us.

“YOU ARE PRECIOUS… AND HONOURED IN MY SIGHT, and I love you.’

As I pondered these words again yesterday – I realized that the Father says this to Jesus ‘You are precious and honoured and I love you…. And Jesus says it to the Father…’Father, You are precious to me and I honour you and I love you..” And then they both say to the Spirit… Tell them, tell them… This is how we feel about them too. Tell them!”
For this is the wonderful work of the Spirit – to convey to us what he hears in the courts of heaven… Being HIS means we are swept up into this relationship of love and honour and respect and incredible value – and this is the basis of our joy in the Lord.

What would change in our sense of who we are – in our ability to step out with courage, to walk closely with the Lord into new things - if we really, really heard the Spirit say to us “You are honoured by the Father… You are honoured by the Lord Jesus… They delight over you!”
Even the Spirit honours us by coming to live in us.

I have summoned you!

“Fear not, my precious one. For I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name… YOU ARE MINE!”

What does this mean – “I have summoned you by name.”
It means he called us to be his long before we ever called out to him to save us.
He summoned us…. He called out to the four winds… YOU ARE MINE… come home!
And before we ever heard those words aloud…. Our hearts heard them.

The reason we gather to worship and listen to his word is because he summoned us long ago.
The reason our hearts turned to him at some time and began to drink in his words… is that he summoned us - because he wanted us.

This whole passage is the language of covenant.
The Lord… the Holy One of Israel is speaking covenant language. He chose to make himself our covenant partner. “You are my people, and I am your God.”
It was his choice before it was ours. It was His actions, not ours which made us His. He decided and acted long, long before we decided and responded.

Covenant means we belong to him, and he belongs to us.
All he is is available to us – and all we are he rightly expects to be available to him. This is Covenant life.
He decided we would be his before we even existed on this earth.
He created us in every detail to be his – and he paid that awful price to get us back again.
And so he calls and calls and calls – “come back to me my precious one… you are mine.”
He calls us by name – individually – personally. Because he knows us all by name.

And when he says “Fear not – I have redeemed you, You are mine…” he is saying not only ‘you are my choice’ but‘you are my responsibility – everything about you is my responsibility.
Your debts, your sins, your struggles, your fears, your dreams, your hopes, your best endeavours….your worst days… I am carrying all of these’. I carry the full weight of your lives…and you don’t need to.

This is why Jesus can say - “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light’.
Covenant means that he, the Lord, our Father, our Saviour, our Elder Brother, carries the weight of our lives. Past, present and future.
We no longer need to carry it. We no longer need to live with fear and anxiety and uncertainty.

What would happen in your heart… in the way you live your life if this reality grabbed you and re-ordered your inner being? "I called you…. I initiated everything….You are my responsibility… so there is nothing to fear." How would you live if this was real to you?

Your value to him

I read the following words the other day on a blog from Steve Taylor (Isle of Sky) They really touched me.

He was pondering on the verse in Hebrews 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the JOY set before him endured the cross, scorning it’s shame…”

What future joy could possibly be worth the incredible suffering and shame of death by crucifixion? There was no joy in heaven that Jesus did not already know – so this statement must mean something other than his anticipation of returning there. There can be no doubt therefore that the joy that Jesus and the Father anticipated – was you!


Can that really be true? It seems so incredible! But we are told that as the woman rejoiced over finding the coin she had lost - “In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” (Luke 15:10 – NIV) We are of incredible worth to the Father, so your reconciliation, your redemption brings incredible joy to his heart. So valuable are you that Calvary was, as far as He is concerned, worth it all. You are precious beyond words!

What would change in your heart if this reality really took hold of you? “You are precious beyond words to me.”

Your redemption, your rescue, your reconciliation to the Father was worth the agony of the cross. You are THAT precious to him. What would change?

He delights in me

I have been reading Wayne Jacobsen’s book “He Loves Me!” recently and have been greatly helped by the following:


“The Lord your God is with you. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 Except for fleeting moments, I couldn’t imagine that this was the way God felt about me. Regular moments of insecurity would drive me to my knees in repentance and make me redouble my efforts to be more committed to God, but I never had any certainty that the things I was doing were enough to cause him to be delighted with me. I thought I had to put something forward that would prove to him how serious I was about following him.

During this time I experienced incredible moments of fellowship with God. I saw him intervene in ways that I knew only he could… But the more I gave him the more it seemed he wanted, and the best I could do at any moment was to break even with him.

I’ll never forget when that all changed. A few years ago, through a painful betrayal and a fresh insight into God’s work for us on the cross, I began to see how much my Father loved me and to understand how much delight he took in his children. This realization radically transformed my life…

God doesn’t need us to serve him as a means to attain his love or affection. He wants us to serve him out of the love and affection he already holds in his heart. If you have never tasted that reality, you cannot imagine the freedom that lies ahead of you. My Father brought me to the place where I realized that even if I never preached another sermon, never counselled another person, never led someone to Christ again, he would still delight in me as his child.

That doesn’t mean he approves of everything I do, but he has freed me to know that he loves me – absolutely and completely. It is not the fear of losing God’s favour that takes us to the depth of fellowship with him and transforms our lives with his holiness. It is our certainty of knowing his unrelenting love for us even in the midst of our weakness and failure that leads us to the fullness of his life. Fear had never taken me to the depths of his life or his transforming power; discovering his delight has. I now know that the key to God’s favour doesn’t rest on what I give him but on what he already has given to me.

He delights in you, too. Can you see him that way, exulting and dancing with joy over you?

See his website:  http://www.lifestream.org/ for all sorts of free resources, mp3s and newsletter

Distracted by His Presence

The other Sunday we had a brooding sense of the Presence of God. It was rather awe-inspiring. Some were overcome by the sharing of the Word, some by the worship time. The pastor felt so 'distracted' he was not sure he could preach coherently!
I felt shakey, a melting sense inside, close to tears all the time - a deep sense of his love mixed with joy. A song we had sung stayed with me for days and days, and still returns. I woke with it in my head this morning and the same sense of being a little distracted, overwhelmed.... was upon me.

Even doing ordinary things - I feel I just want to sink into worship and disengage with the focus on TV or reading or cooking or emails... Interesting. It feels like He is calling me away over and over into adoration or just listening for him. It is fully a heart/spirit thing. My head can be elsewhere and there is that deeper engagement with Him.

It has created a deep hunger again - for that awareness and attentiveness I have known in the past. Is this how it is always meant to be?  Have we had things upside down, inside out... HE IS THERE, with us, all the time. Sinking into that is our 'hiding place', our place of peace, our source of joy, our strength and wisdom... all we need.

Here are some great quotes from Bill Johnson's latest book Hosting His Presence:
Meeting Him through adoration

“It has been a practice of mine for many years now to go to sleep with this simple act of releasing my affection, my love and adoration for him until I sense His Presence rest upon me. I don’t sing or worship, or intercede for others - I simply love him until my heart is warmed by His Presence.


Genesis teaches us that the day starts at night. Giving him our nights is the way to start our day. For many, the torment that is experienced in the night watches would end by this simple action. Start your day at night by giving him your affection until He warms your heart.” (p.159)

Letting Him love you
One of the more meaningful parts of my life is the five-minute vacations I take. They can happen any time or anywhere. The amount of time I take varies, but the activity does not. For example, if I am in my office, I’ll ask my secretary to hold my calls for a few minutes. I will sit down and generally close my eyes and pray something like this, “God, I’m going to sit here quietly, just to be the object of your love.” The flow of His love for us is like a massive waterfall. Becoming aware of that love and experiencing that love is wonderful beyond words. It has the side benefits of driving out all fear.

Jesus respect for women - John 4

A message I gave on Mothers Day

This custom of having a Sunday to honour mothers began in the US about 100 years ago.
The purpose was not only to give thanks to our mothers, but to recognise that mothers have tremendous influence in shaping the lives of the next generation.
I am sure Jesus knew this – because he always blessed and encouraged and lifted up mothers and women. I believe he did this because he knew that every time women are blessed and encouraged, they share it in their homes and among their friends. The blessing multiplies quickly! And the Kingdom of God is all about multiplying God’s goodness and love.

How did Jesus relate to his mother?
There are two stories about Jesus and his mother that show his respect and his tenderness for her. When Jesus was at the Wedding in Cana and the wine ran out – his mother asked him do something about it. He told her that it was not his time to do these things. But she would not give up – and she said to the servants ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ I am sure Jesus smiled at her when she said that! I believe Jesus agreed to do this first miracle because he respected his mother’s faith and perseverance. She had great influence in his life. And look how many people were blessed because she did.
Then when he is hanging on the cross in terrible pain – he tells John, his best friend, that he must care for his mother as if she is his own – and then he says to Mary “Look, there is your son.” He wanted his mother cared for when he was gone. Even in his agony, he remembered the needs of his mother.

In the story we read today from John’s gospel, Jesus has a most interesting conversation with a Samaritan woman. We have no idea if she is a mother. But the way Jesus speaks to her shows us how Jesus wanted to bless women, even women who no-one else wanted to bless.

The Samaritans were related to the Jews, but they had some different beliefs and they lived separately. And the Jews despised them as inferior.
So in this story Jesus stops for a rest beside the well outside of a Samaritan town. His disciples go on into the town to buy food. And when the Samaritan woman comes to draw water – Jesus asks her to draw water so he can have a drink.

It is clear he cares enough about this woman to break the cultural rules and talk to her. Culture said he should ignore her. He should not talk to her. But he doesn’t. He asks for a drink and begins a conversation that will change her life, and the life of her village. He cares more about her life than about keeping the cultural rules. He breaks the rules to bring her to peace and joy.

Then he starts to show her who he really is. “I am the one who can give you living water,” he says. He is talking about the Holy Spirit who will come to live in all who believe in Jesus. “Give me this water!” she says.
Then he begins to show her that he knows who SHE really is. “You have had five husbands.” This could mean that they have all died – or that some have died and some have divorced her. For only a man can divorce his wife in that culture, not the other way around.
He is not criticising her – and he is not just exposing her failures in relationships. He is not saying she is a bad woman.

I think he is saying to her “I know you have had a painful and difficult life – you have looked for love and security again and again. And I know you have had loss and grief and confusion many times. I understand what your life has been like.”
Then he says – “And the man you are living with now is not your husband.”

Is Jesus condemning her or making her feel ashamed? I don’t think so -. because she does not cry or ask for forgiveness - and she does not run away in shame.
In fact – she is impressed that Jesus knows so much. “You are a prophet!” she says.
And then she immediately begins to discuss theology with Jesus. If he was judging her she would not feel free to discuss the differences in their beliefs! The tone of his voice, and the way he spoke to her showed her he cares – he does not condemn.

And he tells her about his Father. He tells her “the Father is seeking true worshippers – who are not concerned about the place where they worship – but who worship from knowing him in their hearts.”
Then he reveals to her that he is the Messiah, the promised King. “I am the one you are all waiting for!”

He is telling her things he has not told anyone else! He is revealing the secrets of heaven to her! And yet she is a despised woman in her village. This is an amazing conversation.

1. He broke through custom and prejudice to reveal himself and his compassion to her.

2. He helped her to be completely honest with him about her deep heart needs.

3. He offered her the ‘living water’ of the Spirit who will satisfy her thirst for love and relationship.

4. He taught her about true worship and the Father and the future.

5. He revealed to her who he really was.

I believe Jesus showed incredible care and compassion and respect to this woman who was despised by others in her village. He lifted her up and showed her a new way to live.

We see that he did this with other women too. He let them touch him, and cry over him and pour expensive perfume over him. And other people criticised him for this. He encouraged Mary to learn and grow in her knowledge of him – even though her sister Martha was complaining about all the work that needed to be done. He refused to judge a woman caught in adultery. He challenged her accusers about their own sin - but he offered to her forgiveness and a new start.

We never see Jesus being critical to women – or telling them their role is only to care for the home and family. We see him honouring them – lifting them up out of pain and sin – and letting them learn alongside of the men about who he is. I think he does this because he knows that when women drink in encouragement and blessing –and when they discover new things about the Lord - they will share them and bless many others. It will multiply quickly.

It is demonstrated so clearly in this story. What does the Samaritan woman do after she has had this conversation with Jesus? She runs back to her village and becomes a witness for Jesus. She is so excited by the way he has spoken to her that she cannot help telling everyone. And because of her story - they ask him to stay and talk with them too, and many come to believe in him.

Jesus said he came to bring life in all its fullness – to women and men, to mothers and wives and single women and girls, to boys and young men and fathers.

I hope you have taken time today to speak blessing and encouragement into the women in your life. Not just mothers and grandmothers, but your aunties, your sisters and your daughters.

And will you do what Jesus did? Will you break through any cultural barriers that you have and speak blessing to the women in your life? Encourage them – speak a blessing over them – and help them enjoy the Lord with you.

When you do this you will see it multiply into their families. They will pass on what you pour into them. And the Kingdom of love will be seen where you live.

A Blessing Prayer - for men to pray over the women in their lives:

I bless you in Jesus’ name.

The Lord delights in you and calls you ‘His beloved’.

May you know his love and compassion every day of your life.

May you find his strength and wisdom in your daily life.

May you walk with courage and joy every day.

You are precious and honoured in his sight.

Thank you for all you give to others.

I bless you with the favour of the Father, and the Son, and the Spirit.

Amen.

Stronger than Fear

Excerpts from Wayne Jacobsen's book 'He loves me'

"After his work on the cross was finished Jesus went looking for love and he sought it from the one who had just failed him most. (Peter) Could this be what he most wanted the cross to produce in his followers? Was his death designed to reach past their fears of God and begin a new relationship based on the intimacy of love instead?

Love lies at the very core of God's nature. In fact, when John summed up the substance of God he said simply: "God is love." Father, Son and Spirit exist in a perfect state of love. When that love touches you, you will discover there is nothing more powerful in the entire universe. It is more powerful than your failures, your sins, your disappointments, your dreams, and even your fears. Nothing can prevail over it; and nothing else will lead you to taste of his kind of holiness.

The fear of God is incomplete - it is the first rung on the ladder to knowing God in his fullness. He said hmself it was the beginning of wisdom, but it is only the beginning. Love is the end product of wisdom.
If you don't love God, you will be well served to fear him. At least it might keep you from destructive behaviours... But once you know how much he loves you, you'll never need to fear him again. In other words, this Father doesn't just see your obedience, he desires your affection. He can have your obedience without your love, but he knows where he has your love he will also have your obedience.

"There is no fear in love.... because fear has to do with punishment," John wrote as he tried to convince the church in Ephesus that God's love had replaced the old order of fear. It was revolutionary then and regrettably still is today. We seem more comfortable fearing God than we do loving him.

 But fear isn't in God's nature. He fears nothing. Thus his own holiness is produced not by fear, but by his love. In fact, fear cannot produce the holiness God wants to share with us. It is incapable of doing so. For God to transform us to be like him, he must expel our fear and teach us the wonder of living in his love.
He needs our fear no longer, knowing we will never love that which we fear.

We think conformity to his ways will lead us closer to him, when the opposite is true. If we focus on our own fears and performance, he will seem more distant. It is only by living in the security of God's affection that he is able to transform us. God knows that responding to his love will take you much further than fear ever could. That is why love must first deal with our fears. "Perfect love drives out fear," John continued. While fear may be the most powerful motive known to man, God's love is more powerful still, and in the face of it our greatest fears are swallowed up in him. Love displaces fear the same way light displaces darkness.

There is nothing more critical to spiritual growth than making this transition. John concludes, "The one who fears is not made perfect in love" (1John4:18). As long as we live in fear, we exclude ourselves from the very process that will make us complete in God. When you are absolutely convinced of how much God loves you, that knowledge will drive out every fear you have. You won't need to fear an uncertain future, the rejection of friends, the lack of desires, or even God himself. Knowing his heart for you will free you to trust him more than ever, and that alone will lead you to ever-greater participation in his holiness.

http://www.lifestream.org/ - Wayne has free mp3 downloads of his core teachings.

"Serve him without fear all our days."

Over and over in Scripture these words are given. FEAR NOT! But we do!!! An awful lot of our responses to life are fearful. Lots of decisions in life are out of fear.
People marry because of a fear of being alone. We invest money in things out of a fear of not having enough so we want to make more. We are fearful about our children, our jobs, our housing.... our health. So many things. And we work hard to make life safe for us and those we love.

We can also fear displeasing God - viewing him as a 'schoolmaster' out to find fault - a 'policeman' looking for our transgressions. We don't understand the release of grace for all our sin and the place of safety in Jesus we have. And the tender love of the Father toward us.

This inherent fear that pervades a good many lives is a result of the Fall - the time when we lost touch with the perfect Father who will care for us in minute detail if we would but let him. Jesus talked a lot about how we are loved and cared for by our Heavenly Father. 'Fix your eyes on him and his way of life - and leave the detail up to him - he will see you right.'

But we want to be responsible and wise and mature about life. So we have to carry all the decisions and make the hard choices.... surely?  Yes, and no. We are called to be responsible stewards of all the good things the Lord has entrusted to us. But we will always need a Father who cares for us with deep affection and great wisdom. Because on our own we can never actually always get it right. Life regularly dumps things on us that are way, way beyond our sorting out. I think Father lets that happen to show us how much we need him, just for everyday life, let alone eternal things.

I am pondering and exploring how deep rooted this 'acting out of fear' is in my life. Some occasions and reactions to people lately have given me good clues. I am bringing these into the light for cleansing... for me to forgive others... for the Father to fill that space with his assurances.

In the prophecy that Zechariah spoke over his newborn son John he said these lovely words, Luke 1:74 "He has come... to rescue us from the hand of our enemies (fear is our enemy) and to enable us to serve him without fear... all our days."
YES Lord!

You are mine!

Isaiah 43 says, "this is what the Lord says - he who created you, he who formed you: Fear not, for I have redeemed you by name; you are mine."
This incredible verse tells us that we are his, twice over. We are his because he created and formed us. And we are his because he redeemed us - he bought us back when we were lost to him.

We in the West grow up with such a sense of being 'our own person'. We are encouraged to be 'self-made'. We have no sense that we belong to our Creator. We are his because he made us and formed us and shaped us for his purposes. Scripture says that even before the world was created he had plans for us. And he created us in his image... he was our Father right from the start. We are 'a chip off the old block' as we say.

But we got lost. We were stolen away by the evil one. We lived without God and without hope. But he wanted so much for us to come home to where we belong - that he sent his own dear Son - wrapped in humanity, to bring us back through dying for us. He 'redeemed' us - he paid for our way home to the Father.

So we are twice his. His by design and creation, and his by redemption. It is only when we awake to these realities that life begins to make sense. We then can find out what he designed us to be and do in partnership with him in the world. It is glorious... it is fulfilling... it is full of eternal fruitfulness. It is a wonder to us when we begin to see this master plan and our part in it. We are caught up in a cosmic love story of the Father for his children. He is very, very fond of us!  Soak in that reality and ask him how he is loving you today. Your heart will fill with gratitude as you begin to see him loving you in a thousand little ways.

Can I recommend you look at Wayne Jacobsen's website and download the free mp3s there and listen. They are so wonderful and freeing. http://www.lifestream.org/

Redemption is logical

It is common to hear people say 'WHY should God love ME?' It is as if they consider themselves very inconsequential and not worth his consideration. (Or too sinful or too unfaithful?)

But think about the word 'redeem'. It means to buy back that which once belonged to you.
My Uncle Norman played solo cornet in the NZ 4th Brigade Band in the 2nd World War. He was a great player, and he loved his cornet. But during the war he lost it. It happened when the Germans invaded Crete and the band just escaped with their lives, but had to leave all their instruments behind.
But wait, there's more! A few years later, after the war, he was in Cairo, Egypt. And in a 2nd hand shop he saw a cornet for sale. It looked very familiar, so he went inside to see. Would you believe it, it was HIS!  It has engravings on that marked it out as his! So he paid the price, and bought it, and took it home. I have seen it myself.

Jesus is 'our Redeemer' - the one who buys back those that once belonged to God and then got lost. If we think in terms of the whole human race (and not just us as individuals) we belonged to God - as all of us were in Adam. We were designed and planned and created to be his. He wanted a family, and so he created mankind. But then we got lost. And Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. He told stories of the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost sons. All belonged before they got lost and later were found again.
Jesus has bought us back, to make the way for us to come home to our Father. Hebrews 2:10 talks about Jesus 'bringing many sons to glory'.

So redemption is quite logical. We were his in the first place. We came from him, we are not our own by the fact of Creation and his initial 'Fathering' of the human race. Through Jesus' death we are not our own twice over... because we have been bought back with a great price.

Of course he loves us because he created us and formed us FOR HIMSELF (not for ourselves) in the first place. And of course he loves us so very much that he sent Jesus to bring us home again. It is not about 'am I worthy/good enough/significant enough' at all! That is presumptious, if you think about it. It is about his heart, his plans, his intentions, his longings... to have us as his children for ever. When we 'get' this it changes everything. Our eyes lift to him, off ourselves, and we can enjoy his love and devotion to us and his incredible sacrifice to bring us home.

It also changes how we view our 'mistakes,' our wandering, our failings. They can NEVER, NEVER, NEVER disqualify us from being his. We are his twice over. How will our 'paid for' sins cancel this out?
It is not logical or even sensible to think like this. Only our enemy wants to keep robbing us by causing us to doubt that we are lavishly loved, and delightedly accepted by our Abba!

When Jesus was warning Peter that he would deny him he said some interesting things. (Luke 22:31) "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat."  Note that he addresses Peter with his old name Simon. He has not yet become 'the Rock'. Notice also that Satan asked... got permission to test Peter. An interesting thought.
 "But I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail." Wow! Why didn't he pray he would not deny him? Jesus prayed that his faith in Jesus, his faith in the Lord's love and acceptance of him, would not fail. That he would not walk away in despair of himself and his failure.
"And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." This wonderful sentence shows Jesus' confidence that Peter WILL turn back - which is what repentance means (surely Jesus' prayers will be answered!) - and that he will have a role to play in the events ahead.

If Jesus did this for Peter - do you not think he is now (at the right hand of the Father) still praying for us that our faith in his goodness and our belonging to him will not fail? I have no doubt whatsoever that he is.

So let us stop filling our minds with such talk of 'Why me?' or 'How can he forgive me again?' Let's get the right picture of who we are to the Father, and how great is our salvation. The price that was paid for us settles forever the question of what we mean to God. We are made strong and resilient by delighting in this... not questioning it over and over.

Why did Jesus die with his arms wide open?

Why did Jesus die with his arms wide open? I was pondering that just before Easter.
Stephen was stoned for the same 'crime' - blasphemy.

I think we find the answer in John 17:26. Jesus said to the Father, "I have come to make you known, and will continue to make you known..."  Everything he did, everything he responded to - was in order to make the Father known. In all his actions he is saying 'This is what the Father is like."

When he put the ear back on the High Priest's servant and healed him (at a time of painful betrayal) he was revealing the compassion of the Father for his enemies.
When he spoke forgiveness as they nailed him to the cross - he was revealing that the Father will forgive even those who do not know that they are attacking him. (See also Saul who is confronted on the road to murdering more believers).
All his responses to the horrors of his persecution, arrest and death were a revelation of the Father's love.
So dying with his arms wide open says 'This is what my Father is like'.

The early church Fathers used to say that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are the two arms of our Father God, reaching down to bring us home. What a wonderful picture.

John 17:26 goes on to say "I will continue to make you known IN ORDER that the love you (Father) have for me, may be in them." Wow! The SAME love that the Father lavishes on Jesus, is to be lavished on us. This is why Jesus constantly revealed the Father!

St. Augustine once said that if the whole Bible were to be condensed down to one statement it would shout like a roaring wind "The Father loves us, and he wants us to come home."  Have you come home to that love? 

How love drives out fear

I have been thinking a lot about the Easter story – because David and I will be preaching at another church at Easter.
And I keep thinking - “Why were the disciples deaf to what Jesus was saying to them? He warned them he would be taken and killed – but would rise again on the third day. He told them a number of times. But it never took hold in their minds or hearts. They did not really hear him.Why were their ears so closed to his warning to them?”

In this story in Mark 8:27-35 we see Peter having a great insight into who Jesus is. “You are the Christ – you are the anointed one – the promised Messiah.” The Spirit had opened his eyes to who Jesus really was.
Then Jesus describes what will soon happen to him. He will suffer many things. He will be rejected by the leaders, he will be killed, and he will rise again.
“No! No!” said Peter. “Don’t say these things. This will not happen. You cannot let this happen!”

What has happened to this man of insight? Why is he rebuking Jesus?
Fear had overcome him. He could not imagine these things happening to Jesus. It was impossible. Jesus was the Anointed Messiah – he was going to be Israel’s King and Deliverer. No! No! THIS CANNOT HAPPEN! He was terrified by what Jesus was saying. This would spoil everything.

Did you notice that he only heard half of what Jesus said? He only heard the bad bits. He did not hear the wonderful words “And after three days I will rise again.” His ears were blocked to the good news.

Jesus responded to him “Get behind me Satan! You are not thinking as God does, you are thinking as men do.” What a terrible rebuke – to tell Peter that Satan’s words were coming out of his mouth.
But that is what fear does to us. We begin to speak like the enemy – not like one who knows God.

And we know that all through the Easter story Peter swung from boldness to fear. In the garden he got out his sword to defend Jesus… but then he ran away.
He gathers his courage and goes to the courtyard of the High Priest to see if he can find out what is happening to Jesus. But then when he is challenged by a teenage girl – his fear betrays him again and he denies Jesus three times. He even curses horribly. This is what fear does to us. Out of our mouth comes terrible words when we are afraid.
Peter loved Jesus. He longed to follow him even to death. But his fear robbed him again and again. And he wept bitterly about his failure – probably for days.

Fear robs us of our dreams and longings. Fear makes us say things we would never want to say.
Fear makes us give up. Fear makes us hide away. Fear makes us silent when we should speak.

Can we ever get rid of fear? Can it be washed out of our lives?
Peter found the answer – and he became a fearless man who did great things for God. He was willing to lay down his life for Jesus. What happened to Peter?

First, he walked away and did something that made him feel better. He went fishing. He did what he felt comfortable doing. He was not afraid of the water or the hard work. It comforted him to get back to his job of fishing.

But Jesus came looking for him – and revealed himself to him – and he talked to him about love and how he would serve him one day.
If you struggle with fear and you cannot walk boldly with the Lord – ask him to find you.
“Lord Jesus, please find me where I am hiding now, and talk to me about love.”
He wants to do that. Keep asking him to find you.

But there was something more. And Paul describes it because he had experienced it. So does John. John is called the Apostle of love because he continually talks about love. Jesus’ love for us, Jesus’ love for the Father; the Father’s love for Jesus and his love for us.

In 1 John 4:18 John writes these remarkable words - “There is NO fear in love. But perfect love – which comes from God – drives out fear.” This is what love can do. When God’s love comes to our hearts – it drives out fear.

When did that perfect love sweep into Peter’s heart? When do we see him free of fear?

On the day of Pentecost - when the Spirit came to those seeking disciples. They were filled with joy, they were filled with praise, and they were filled with love that drove out their fear and made them bold.

Paul says in Romans 8:15 “You did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, and by him we cry “Abba, Father!” We KNOW we belong to the Father and that we are loved by our Father. We know we are loved when the Spirit comes.

Then in Romans 5 we see Paul describing the results of believing in Jesus. We are made right with God – we stand in his grace and mercy – we rejoice because we anticipate his glory – and we are hopeful, even in difficult trials – why? Because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit he has given us. (Romans 5:5)
This happened to fearful Peter - on the day of Pentecost. When the Spirit pours into seeking hearts he brings Jesus perfect love – and that love drives out fear.

This happened to Paul. He was writing about his experience of the love of God. It was the normal experience of believers right from the start. They expected to receive this love pouring into them.

The answer to the fears of every human heart is for the Holy Spirit to pour out his love into our hearts – not just once, but over and over. When we face new experiences that start to make us afraid again… call out to him - “Come Holy Spirit, pour the love of Jesus into my heart again. Cast out this fear and give me your peace. Let me be bold and courageous, whatever my circumstances. Let me anticipate your goodness and your power, because your love is keeping me safe.”

After his resurrection Jesus said to his disciples “Wait in Jerusalem until you receive the promise of my Father – the power from on High.” Wait UNTIL…. Have you ever done that? Waited on God – seeking him – exploring the Scriptures – praying the promises of God UNTIL he comes and pours out his Spirit on you? This is worth waiting and praying for. Everything will change when fear is washed out and his perfect love is poured in. Everything will change – like it did for Peter and the other disciples.

Why do people do bold things for God. Why do they give up comfortable lives and go to hard places with very little help from others. Because “the love of Christ compels them.” His love in us will make us bold and sacrificial. We will love others so much we will be willing to give anything to see them meet God.

I was listening to a CD by a man called Steve talking about how the love of Jesus compelled him to pray for the youth. He was at a youth camp as a leader – and he noticed the young people were not really wanting to know God. They were just fooling about and having a good time. His heart was broken about them. He found himself weeping and praying for hours and hours for them. He was compelled by love to plead with God for them to meet Jesus. He had received the heart of Jesus for them. And a few days later in a service – he saw all of these young people surrender their lives to Jesus with deep repentance and tears, and be filled with the same Spirit of love.

Have you every had your heart broken by the love of Jesus for others? This is what his love will do for you. It will give you his heart, his compassion, his longing to cry out to the Father, “Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing.”

Fear is not our friend. Fear is not ‘just how we are’. It is the enemy’s work. It destroys relationships, it destroys our potential for serving God and bringing his life to others. It robs us. It kills hope. It takes away our joy. Living with fear is painful and exhausting. I know all about it. I have been there too often. I am praying these prayers again and again. I need more of his love to push out fear.

“Lord Jesus, find me and talk to me about love.”

“Lord Jesus, show me how much the Father loves me.”

“I reject fear - it is my enemy. God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and a peaceful mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

“Holy Spirit pour out your love into my heart, so I can love others like Jesus does. I refuse to be satisfied with anything less that a baptism in your love.”

Will you pray and seek for this love UNTIL he comes upon you? This is our inheritance. This is what Jesus died to give us. This is what the world is waiting to see in the followers of Jesus.

Don’t be satisfied until your fear is driven out by his perfect love.

Ugly things in beautiful places

We were only holiday by the coast in January and on a drive decided to stop and look at a stunning view of the coast from a high point. It was a perfect day - classic calm sea with the dramatic Kapiti Island as clear as could be. We just kept saying 'Wow... isn't it stunning.' We just stood there drinking it in.

Then I looked down at around our feet and there were a number of fast food cartons and soft drink cans and bottles. Urgh.... How jarring, in such a beautiful place. I could not fathom how people could stand and admire all this beauty and then litter the place with their rubbish. So we picked it all up and put it in the bin only a few metres away!

Some days later - at a time when God was revealing lovely things to me at a seminar - and my heart was deeply touched... I found that in a conversation with someone close - some old and painful places were touched - and ugly feelings and words started to emerge and litter this 'sacred space'. Hmmmm.... I have this problem too. Ugly things in beautiful places. And the solution also is to clear them up and put them in the bin.

It seems to be a feature of life, doesn't it. I was at another event with lovely relational things happening - and someone got their nose out of joint, and sour and negative words started being muttered, and I thought, "How sad...."  Is this just how this life will be? Jesus did talk about the wheat and the tares (weeds) growing together until the final day.

I have made it a habit in the last year to name every ugly thing that comes out of me 'a place that has not experienced the healing love of the Father.' For where divine love resides - no ugly, painful, sinful thing can remain. So it is imperative, not just to apologise and ask forgiveness for the ugly outbursts, but to invite the Spirit to put together that wounded, needy place with the wonderful, cleansing and restoring love of God. He does have answers - but we must seek them out.

"He is able....."

The year ahead of us must be viewed through HIS ability, not ours, HIS promises and assurances, not simply our dreams and desires.  I have been pondering on the phrase "He is able...".  Look at these verses below. I find that turning them into a personal declaration and saying it aloud is helpful - e.g. "Lord, you are able to do what you have promised! Quicken a promise to me for my health struggles."

“He (Jesus) is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebr.7:25


“I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12

“God is able to do what he has promised.” Romans 14:4

“Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebr. 2:18

“He is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” Ephesians 3:20

“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence, without fault and with great joy…” Jude 24

May you rest in his ability as the year unfolds - he has far more to show us about what he can do.