Hearing God's 'yes'

Ugly things in beautiful places

2012-02-19T05:20:00.000-08:00

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....."

2012-01-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

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.

If he has given us Christ....

2011-12-08T09:55:00.001-08:00

Rom.8:31-32 says "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

This Christmas I decided I wanted to be in a singing event. I used to be in a big choir and miss that. So I joined a women's chorus who do acapella four part singing (barbershop style). We have learnt nine pieces and will sing them this Sunday afternoon. There are two carols and one NZ Christmas song. The conductor called Silent Night a 'sweet' song. I was moved in my spirit by it - after singing Christmas ditties like 'I'm dreaming of a white Christmas' 'Rocking around the Christmas tree" etc. !! My husband rolls his eyes at all this Christmas cultural sentimentality, but he will come to the performance. I am even wearing a necklace of flashing lights for the occasion!

So much of Christmas is sentimentality - apart from the cultural elves, reigndeer, etc etc. We are touched by the 'little baby' - the stars and angels... the shepherds delight and the wise men's wonder. But the verse above tells us something so uch more profound - this child became the man who died for us - and lives for us - and is the doorway to "all things"!

David, my husband, preached on Sunday on 2 Cor 9:6-15 (have a look at it) and verse 8 says "And God is able to make all grace abound (overflow) to you, so that having all that you need in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." LOOK AT ALL THE ALLS!!!

The point here is that the coming of Jesus released to us ALL that we need - for all situations - at all times. Not just for our sins, our past, our entrance into eternal life, but for all of life. We have but to receive that grace (his ability) in all of life situations. A number of times this week we have been stretched and began to react to some perceived injustice or blockage to what we had presumed would happen... and I have had to stop myself and say that verse "God IS able to make all grace abound to me, in all things... so I have all I need..." And everything changed within me as I said that. I came to inner rest.

His coming to us - to be our life - our death - our resurrection has released to us FAR, far more than we realise. ALL we need, in fact. All the grace, courage, wisdom, insight, rest, peace, patience, generosity.... we will ever need. It goes way, way beyond sentimentality, being moved by a song, writing a few cheques for the needy. ALL things, at all times, in all situations. He's got it all covered. Christ in us is his perfect life in us. We must sink back into him when under duress. Sink back into him for every moment to be his life and not ours. I have for a few years now felt that this is God's most (MOST) ingenius solution to our sinful ways - to put the perfect life of Christ IN US as our substitute. (Too big a topic to explore now - breakfast awaits!!)

But get hold of the 'all things' this Christmas. It will transform how you view your day, your challenges, your impossibilities. All grace - for all things. Wow! Worship out of that wonder.

Curious Christmas Contradictions

2011-12-01T13:53:00.001-08:00

I was just going into a Christian 2nd hand shop and stopped to admire the lovely nativity scene in the front window. Great display - nice message... then I walked through the door to be confronted by a nearly 7 foot (over two metres) Father Christmas. A really 'in your face' moment.... how jarring! Then I noticed a sign pinned on him - 'Not for Sale'!!! Whatever next???? I think WE have sold out to the jolly fat red man. Sigh....
My antidope to all this is three things.
1) give to the needy... after all that is who Jesus came for. We should give more away than we spend on gifts and food for family. For many years our Christmas Day was spent doing a local community dinner for those on their own. Deeply satisfying.
2) worship deeply - and we do this mostly through going to a choral evening of lovely music and allowing our hearts to be lifted up in worship. Sometimes we arrange a time of music and reflection at our house or at the church. Giving a whole evening to pondering on the wonder of his coming is barely enough... Every year I say 'I will do a 5 day retreat next year instead of all this rushing about!' But as we are moving house shortly, it will not be this year.
3) celebrate family... Somewhere around the weeks before and after Christmas we do family things. It no longer has to be 'on the day'. What a relief. And we spread them out - with no pressure - just the joy of connecting and food and making memories.
Find some joy and harmony .... and mostly find him in this season. Otherwise it is a contradiction.

Praying on the job

2011-11-27T11:07:00.001-08:00

A friend told me a great story the other day. She is a nurse and was part of a team caring for a young babywith bronchitus on a night shift, and they were trying to keep him ventilated. It was a huge struggle and they thought at one point they might lose him. My friend kept praying, then at one point she said she cried out from the depths of her being (silently) for the life of this child. A little while later things improved and they all breathed a sigh of relief.

She asked the specialist 'What changed?' He said he was standing there and a new idea came to his mind and he tried it, and it worked. And the baby lived. Wow! The Spirit working in the mind and heart of a doctor who did not know him, because of the deep cry of another. Is this being 'salt and light' in the world? Do we realise the power of prayer in our hearts and mouths for those daily situations that frustrate and confuse us in daily life?

Pray 'on the job' at all times. With thanksgiving. He has tied his hands to our prayers. What a privilege!

"Eternity is just the beginning"

2011-11-18T11:03:00.001-08:00

I saw this statement on the posters advertising the new Twilight movie, 'Eternity is just the beginning', and I thought, 'What rubbish - they have no idea what they are talking about!" But the phrase has stayed in my head. (Their clever idea all the time!)

I think my initial thought was "If only they understood what 'eternity' meant, and what glory awaits us if we know the Lord of all eternity." What a great point for discussion with someone. Aha... we can use this as a lever to spiritual conversations. Good one!

But then I was reading in Daniel about the 'Ancient of Days' on his throne, and the Kingdom that will never be destroyed, and 'his dominion will never end.' It is not just about eternity as compared to time - it is about the King of all Kings, the one who rules in eternity, who rules in love and power and righteousness. And the 'Lamb upon the Throne' who all will worship. So that phrase is true, 'Eternity IS just the beginning' of the glory that awaits us. Do we think about this much - or at all? We will rule with him over the cosmos - over other created beings. Wow! And our training is happening now! How are we ruling (through his Spirit in us) over the works of darkness in our lives, and our hearts? Hmmm. More succumbing than ruling, some days??

"Lord of all eternity, present in time and in our hearts now, what a phenominal privilege is ours, to partner with you in your eternal kingdom. We are on the winning side. Help us today to get a renewed sense that the trials and trip-ups of our earthly life are as nothing in the light of your eternal glory, that we can just have a taste of here and will revel in one day. Hallelujah! Help us find moments to share this glory with someone else, so they can step into this glorious eternity with you. Amen, let it be!"

Heart Hydration in a busy life

2011-11-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

Heart hydration is the daily drinking in of his presence, his peace, his love… whatever we need to receive from him in our busy lives. It can be done by simple means in brief snatches of time. Developing these as habits can keep our hearts open in busy seasons. The state of our heart and it’s journey to daily rest and peace is of great interest to the Lord.

1. Use your doorways. We all have things that can almost instantly refresh or inspire us. It may be certain kinds of music, a place we go to, a statement we make, something we read, even a person to have a coffee with. Find what works for you and chose it often. One for me is water - especially the sea.

2. Take the Word into your day. Scripture is a ‘living word’ so chewing on it can release life to our hearts and often insight into our minds as well. Find a short phrase that is current for you, and ‘breathe’ it in and out a number of times to let it settle into you. Expect the Spirit to keep bringing it to mind in those short spaces in your day. Sinking into these moments of breathed prayer are especially calming and restore balance and energy. I am using "Lord Jesus, have mercy..." for many situations.

3. See yourself as ‘beloved’. At our conversion the Spirit immersed us ‘in Christ’ not just to make us ‘one body’ with each other, (1 Cor.12:13) but to make us one with him. So we are ‘in the beloved’- therefore the deep love of the Father for Jesus also envelopes us. (Ephes.1:3-6) We can say at any time of the day or night ‘The Father is loving me now.’ ‘The Father of compassion, the God of all comfort (2 Cor.1:3) is loving me now.’

This is a ‘theological discipline’ – a choice to believe a truth that sets us free from being absorbed by our feelings of failure, lack, sinfulness, weakness… The effect of declaring this reality to our hearts opens a door to that love being tangibly experienced as peace, or joy, or tenderness… He IS loving us now.

For more understanding about the love of the Father that envelopes us – see www.fatherheart.net and the teaching by James Jordan on CD ‘The Centrality of the Heart’ and others. Also www.fatherlovesyou.com and the books, DVDs and CDs of Ed Piorek. I can send you a list of mp3s to access for free also – contact me at wellsprings@xtra.co.nz

4. Never hesitate to ask someone else to pray with you. We have an incredible ability to speak life and blessing on each other. When you have had a conversation with someone say to them – “Would you pray a blessing on me now?” It can be simply 3 or 4 sentences… and it will do them a power of good to speak into your heart this way. Stand with them, and ask them to hold your hand or put a hand on your shoulder as they do. You may well receive a special ‘word from the Lord’. (A thought for those who are often with needy or unsaved people – have in your pocket a little card with a scripture and prayer on it. Just a few lines. Then you can ask them if they will read it as a ‘blessing’ to you. This could be transformational for them and will probably make you cry! You could let them take it away to pray over their friends and family.)

5. Don’t hesitate to offer a brief prayer of blessing to another wherever or whatever you are doing. This draws on the ‘well of living water’ in you – and you will be refreshed as you do so. Pause and think of the Father loving and blessing this person now, and of the mercy and tenderness of Jesus for them before you formulate your prayer. Again – touch them with your hand if you can. This is another ‘theological discipline’ of acting out of the realities that perhaps we don’t feel at that time. The Spirit will honour our faith.

6. Stop and smell the roses… When going from a) to b) – schedule in a spare 10 minutes or more to stop somewhere that blesses you and drink in the wonder of creation – or take a few moments to walk and breathe your scripture – or have a quiet coffee and let your mind and heart and body come into agreement of his presence and his peace before your next appointment.

A received life

2011-10-30T14:11:00.000-07:00

I heard this statement recently. "The Christian life is a received life". (By Ed Piorek I think) I have been pondering on this for some days. I guess another way of saying it is 'Everything we are we have received from him.' Somehow we know this is true - and yet we find it hard to stay as 'a receiver'.

We have these scripts in our head that having once 'believed and received' our salvation for free we now have to 'do it all right' in order to deserve more. Or maybe we have asked and not received as we had hoped, so now we have stopped asking or expecting anything will come our way. We are 'going through the motions.' Hmmm. Or we think we must always 'position' ourselves right to receive. If I fast and pray and worship and wait on him....

I have been in all those places. But I keep being drawn to books or accounts where God is pouring out all manner of blessings (see the latest blog on http://www.ffald-y-brenin.org/) and my heart just aches for more 'receiving'. Ever since I received a huge outpouring of the Spirit with such freedom and love at the age of 30, I cannot settle for the doddle that most of our Christian life is. Is this wrong? Or am I meant to be a perpetual 'seeker'?

Actually, there is a mid-way point between these two extremes - doddle and desire. And it is drinking daily. We can receive daily fresh bread, fresh water, another 'hug' of joy from our Abba. I think it is about a theology (belief grid) of 'presence'. Are we not 'in him' and therefore beloved of the Father? Is he not 'in us' and therefore his joy and peace and wisdom resides in us....? The secret is to access all these manifold blessings by a life of resting in them. Aha....

I am about to speak about this to a group of ministers. My husband said it sounded like 'spiritual speed dating'. Hmmmm. Not quite. Rather 'Heart hydration'. More when I have completed my prep!
Meantime - keep receiving. Think 'waterfall' and stand under it.

The flame of love

2011-10-26T12:27:00.000-07:00

More excerpts from the story of the Marechele - who brought revival wherever she went.
In 1881 Catherine Booth went to Paris with three companions to begin the work.

What were the ideas with which Catherine began her work in Paris? What was her plan of campaign? How did she hope to conquer?

“I saw,” she says, “that the bridge to France was – making the French people believe in me. That is what the Protestants do not understand. They preach the Bible, they write books, they offer tracts. But that does not do the work. ‘Curse your Bibles, your books, your tracts!’ cry the French. I have seen thousands of Testaments given away to very little purpose. I have seen them torn up to light cigars. And the conviction that took shape in my mind was that unless I could inspire faith in me, there was no hope. Only if Jesus is lifted up in flesh and blood, will He today draw all men to Him. If I cannot give Him, I shall fail. France has not waited till now for religion, for preaching, for eloquence. Something more is needed. ‘I that speak unto thee am He’ – there is a sense in which the world is waiting for that today. Christ’s primary idea, His means of saving the world is, after all, personality. The face, the character, the life of Jesus is to be seen in men and women.

“This is the bridge to the seething masses who believe in nothing, who hate religion, who cry, ‘Down with Jesus Christ!’ What sympathy I felt with them as I listened to their angry cries against something which they had never really seen or known. They shout ‘Jesuits,’ but they have never seen Jesus. Could they but see Him, they would still ‘receive Him gladly.’ France is more sensitive to disinterested love than any nation I have ever known. France will never accept a religion without sacrifice.

“These were the convictions with which I began the work in Paris, and if I had to begin it over again today I would go on the same lines. When I knew what I had to do, my mind was at rest. I said, ‘We will lay ourselves out for them; they shall know where we live, they can watch us day and night, they shall see what we do and judge us.’ And the wonderful thing in those first years of our work in France and Switzerland was the flame. We lighted it all along the line. Wherever we went we brought the fire with us, we fanned it, we communicated it. We could not help doing so, because it was in us, and that was what made us sufferers. The fire had to be burning in us day and night. That is our symbol – the fire, the fire!

Lord what my heart wants – it is the fire
The only secret of victory – it is the fire.

We all know what the fire is; it warms and it burns; it scorches the Pharisees and makes the cowards fly. The poor, tempted, unhappy world knows by whom it is kindled and says, ‘I know Thee who Thou art – the Holy One of God!’

That was what filled the halls at Havre and Rouen, Nimes and Bordeaux, Brussels and Liege. We personified Some One, and that was the attraction. I have not the insufferable conceit to suppose that it was anything in me that drew them. What am I? Dust and ashes. But if you have the fire, it draws, it melts; it consumes all selfishness; it makes you love as He loves; it give you a heart of steel to yourself, and the tenderest of hearts to others; it gives you eyes to see what no one else sees, to hear what others have never given themselves the trouble to listen to. And men rush to you because you are what you are; you are as He was in the world; you have His sympathy, His Divine love, His Divine patience. Therefore He gives you victory over the world: and what is money, what are houses, lands, anything, compared with that?

“This was the one attraction. When I went to France I said to Christ: ‘I in you and You in me!’ and many a time in confronting a laughing, scoffing crowd, single-handed, I have said ‘You and I are enough for them. I won’t fail You, and You won’t fail me.’ That is something of which we have only touched the fringe. That is a truth almost hermetically sealed. It would be sacrilege, it would be desecration, it would be wrong, unfair, unjust, if Divine power were given on any other terms than absolute self-abandonment. When I went to France I said to Jesus, ‘I will suffer anything if you will give me the keys.’ And if I am asked what was the secret of our power in France? - I answer: First, love; second, love; third, love. And if you ask how to get it, I answer: First by sacrifice; second, by sacrifice; third, by sacrifice. Christ loved us passionately, and loves to be loved passionately. He gives Himself to those who love Him passionately. And the world has yet to see what can be done on these lines.”

Duty and love

2011-10-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

The sense of duty may become morbid if it is not transmuted by love. Many servants of God never learn the secret which makes Christ’s yoke easy and His burden light. They have to confess to themselves that they cannot say, “To do Thy will, O Lord, I take delight.”

It would be strange if any of the Booth children had not learned the secret. Catherine discovered it early, learned it thoroughly, and it became in after years one of the hidden sources of her power. As a child she lived in union with Christ; she practised and felt the Real Presence; she understood that Christianity is a Divine Service transfigured by a Divine Friendship. In Victoria Park there was a shady alley where she was in the habit of walking, because Some One walked beside her! In Clifton, where she lived for a time, she had a tiny upper room in which she felt that she was never alone. That was her childhood’s religion, which she never needed to change. She found it to be utterly independent of time and place, form and ceremony. In the glare of public life, in the storm of persecution, in the hour of temptation and danger, she always had a cathedral into which she could retire that she might find peace. She was spiritually akin with the Hebrew mystics who lived in the secret place of the Most High, who had at all times a pavilion from the strife of tongues. In her Neuchatel prison she wrote some simple words that sent a thrill through the heart of Christian Europe:

Best Beloved of my soul, I am here alone with Thee;
And my prison is a heaven, Since Thou sharest it with me.

Whatever gifts were the dower of the young evangelist, she never regarded herself as different in God’s sight from the poorest and meanest of sinners. If God loved her, He loved all with an equal love. That conviction was the motive-power of all her evangelism. A limited atonement was to her unthinkable. How often she made vast audiences sing her father’s great hymn, “O boundless salvation, so full and so free!”

When she was conducting a remarkable campaign in Portsmouth (around the age of 17), she found herself one day among a number of the ministers of the town, one of whom in his admiration of her and her work persisted in calling her one of the elect. This led to an animated discussion on election. Katie listened for a while, but lost patience at last, and rising, delivered herself thus: “I am not one of the elect, and I don’t want to be. I would rather be with the poor devils outside than with you inside.” Having discharged this bombshell she flew upstairs to her mother. “Oh!” she cried, “what have I done?” When she repeated what she had said, her mother, whose laugh was always hearty, screamed with delight. Election as commonly taught was rank poison to the Mother of the Army. The doctrine that God had out of His mere good pleasure elected some to eternal life made her wild with indignation.

The world is waiting for you.

2011-10-19T14:59:00.000-07:00

I have been reading two accounts of the life of William and Catherine Booth's eldest daughter Katie. She became an astounding evangelist and leader, starting the work of the Salvation Army in France and Switzerland. Here is a snippet of her story, more to come.

The Booth children were left in no mist of doubt as to their future. There was an end, a point, a purpose, in their life. They grew up in an atmosphere of decision. Many children are made timid, diffident, and ineffective by their training. They are constantly told how naughty they are till they begin to believe that they are good for nothing. The Booth parents acted on a different principle. They had faith in their children and for their children. When Katie was still a little girl in socks, her mother would say to her, “Now Katie, you are not here in this world for yourself. You have been sent or others. The world is waiting for you.” What an idea that was to send a little girl to bed with! There she turned the words over and over in her own mind, “Mother says the world is waiting for me. Oh, I must be good … How selfish I was in taking that orange!” The lesson was worth 1,000 pounds to a child. In the development of Katie’s mind and character her mother’s influence was naturally very strong. The fellowship between them soon became peculiarly intimate, and it was the mother’s joy to find her alter ego in the daughter who bore her name.

What is faith?

2011-09-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

Life has been a bit topsy turvey. Hubby David had a heart attack and a couple of stents put in and a month off... now getting back into normal life. Also our little church has finally found a new pastor, a young and zealous evangelist who will I am sure renew us all and awaken us to our true calling to reach the lost. Yeah!

But I have also been chewing on Bill Johnson's writings on faith. And wondering... Do we pray out of duty (this is what we do...) or need (they need our prayers...) or faith - being 'anchored in the unseen' and taking hold of the provisions of his grace and refusing to 'let go until he bless' us? I heard a woman pray in church, and she was giving thanks for some family member who had been ill and now was out of danger. She said 'We prayed because it was our duty, but you came and you saved him.' Hmmm. When we do it 'out of duty' or out of need, is there faith in there? Probably... but faith in what? If "faith is the substance of what we hope for.... and the evidence of what is yet unseen - what 'substance' was taken hold of?

I think sometimes our 'I guess we better pray' kind of prayers are taking hold of the substance of God's care, his love, his ability to do something IN GENERAL. It is the mustard seed faith. But what if we had a real sense of that 'substance' available for that need? What if we 'saw' and 'felt' it in our spirit and even had inner 'evidence' of what we do not yet have? Can we? Is it possible? Yes it is. The great 'faith chapter' of Hebrews 11 is all about people who took hold of something unseen and it was so real to them that they could hold onto it regardless... Visionaries, dreamers are like that. But is that 'normal faith'? Actually, I think it is. Because we are not people who have just physical sight, but we have spiritual eyes that can see into the unseen. We can hear what is not of this earth (yet is here on this earth). It is all about cultivating our ability to see, hear and tap into the 'life from above' that is here among us now. There is another realm. We live in it, we breathe it, sleep in it... and yet are often so tuned out to it that we are unaware.

I guess it could be like the amazing world of living microbe thingies... unseen, yet very real. The evidence of them is known and recognised - but we need microscopes to see them. The things all on and in our bodies, our beds, our floors, our lawns.... An amazing unseen reality. I want that kind of faith in the unseen - for the situations that that seem not to change. Those that bring heart-ache and longing. Open my eyes Lord! Open my ears more and more. Let me be 'anchored in the unseen' so that my prayers and my declarations bring them into reality here and now, for my friends, family and the burdens on my heart.

A prayer for all occasions

2011-08-16T13:14:00.000-07:00

All through the centuries, since the time of the early church, there is a prayer that has been prayed a million times. It is in the story of the pharisee and the publican, and also in the story of the blind man, Bartimeus. "Lord Jesus, have mercy.” One man cries out these words because he knows he is a sinner, in need of forgiveness. Another man cries out because he wants Jesus to heal him. And each time – they received what they asked for.

This simple prayer can be prayed at any time in our day. We can pray it for our families. “Lord Jesus, have mercy… on my wife, on my chidren… be gracious to them. Show them your love today.”
We can pray it for the prodigals – those we know who have wandered from God – “Lord Jesus, have mercy… bring them home to the Father.”
We can pray it for our enemies – those who make our life hard. “Lord Jesus, have mercy…soften their hearts, reveal your love to them.”
We can pray it when we are in trouble… “Lord Jesus, have mercy… give me a new job.” Lord Jesus, have mercy… help me forgive.”

It is a prayer to plead with the Lord about others. It is a prayer to pray for ourselves. “Lord Jesus, have mercy.”
The first two words declare that he is Lord – he is the one who rules. He is the Lord of all – he can intervene and change lives and change hearts at any time. But he waits for our co-operation. He waits for our hearts to cry out to him. He waits for our prayers of faith. He waits for our hearts to be willing for him to take charge with his loving rule. He rules with love and great wisdom.

And he is Jesus – the one who saves – the one who rescues. He is the one who understands every longing, every heartache, every need that we have. He shared our life fully. So we can be confident when we come that he will be compassionate and merciful towards us.

And we know that the name of Jesus has power. Our enemy hates that name. It is the name that puts our enemies to flight – it is the name that is above all other names – so we can use it with confidence.
“Lord – my Lord – Jesus – my Saviour – have mercy.”

In Lamentations 3:23 Jeremiah declares that the Lord’s mercy is new every morning. He is always full of mercy. This is his loving-kindness. He cannot stop being merciful. Every time the sun rises – his mercy floods this world again. He does not get tired of being merciful.

“Lord Jesus, have mercy..” say it aloud now. “Lord Jesus, have mercy.”

Think about your family – say it for them… for their health, for their work, for the future of the young ones, for the peace of the older ones. Every day we can pray this prayer for our families. “Lord Jesus, have mercy on Mary… give her a new job”

Think about your own needs. “Lord Jesus, have mercy… I need your compassion… I need your love.”
Say it again now. “Lord Jesus, have mercy.”

When we see the troubles of this world we can pray this. “Lord Jesus, have mercy on our leaders, as they seek to do the right thing.” “Lord Jesus, have mercy on nations where there is famine and disaster. Send relief.”

It is a simple prayer. It is a prayer of the heart. I find if I say it a few times, it opens my heart to feeling his tenderness and his love. As his mercy comes to us, we become tender and merciful to others.

We can say it in our times alone with God. Just say it slowly, “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me.” We do not even need to say any more words. He knows our hearts, he knows every part of our lives. So use it often when you are alone with God. You can say it as you drive. You can say it as you lie in bed, trying to go to sleep. You can say it while you are working. It is so simple. It will keep you close to him.

It is a prayer that can echo in us all day. Each phrase can be said as we breathe in and out. In – Lord Jesus, out – have mercy. I find that if I pray it this way, then my breathing still echoes it – even when I have stopped praying it. Our whole being can be praying. Not just our words or our thoughts.
“Lord Jesus – have mercy.” Say it again. “Lord Jesus, have mercy.” And he does! His tender mercy is here now.

This prayer can take us into the arms of our Father, our Abba. Jesus wants to show him to us. He wants us to know that we are ‘beloved’. So pray it this way often. “Lord Jesus, have mercy. Show me Father’s love.”
Say it now. “Lord Jesus, have mercy. Show me Father’s love.”
Remember to say it slowly, with your heart. And wait for his tender mercy to fill your heart.

Living memories

2011-07-25T14:33:00.000-07:00

A life-giving understanding has awakened for me.

Think of a time when something really special happened between you and the Lord. He spoke to you, or he revealed his presence in a lovely way. Think about it, remember it, and you will begin to feel what you felt at that time. It will 'come alive' for you again.

This is because it IS alive. You touched the eternal, and so that event still remains alive, and has the power to connect you again to that love or joy or awe or tenderness that the Lord evoked in you.

John urges us to 'return to your first love.' We CAN do that by recalling what happened, what it was like, what we felt about him... Then that love will come alive again to us. It is a precious and deeply meaningful place in our memory, in our very being, and it cannot die!

Some feel they 'lose their faith'. It may well be they develop cynicism and doubt and feel that no hope or faith is left. But that memory is still there, if deeply buried. And that gives us hope as we pray for them, that the Lord will rekindle the love and joy they once had. It is still there and the Lord can whisper to them 'return, return to that place and recapture that sense of being home.'

The Lord treasures all these times and holds them to his heart. So should we. When we are anxious and fretful late into the night - return to those places of safety and warmth and rest by remembering and savouring those times again. They are alive in us. Bring them to the forefront of your memory and live in them again.

Remember a Scripture that spoke life to you. Say it again a number of times and let your heart reconnect to the sense of peace it brought. Living in the 'now' is not all it's cracked up to be!! We have eternal treasures tucked away in us. Let them shine, let them glow, let them sing to us again.

When little becomes much

2011-07-14T13:07:00.000-07:00

I was arrested by the story of the loaves and fishes recently. What a shock for the disciples ... all those baskets of food left over, after handing over just five loaves and two fish. I could see the big smile on Jesus' face. I think he chuckled a lot at the reactions of people when he did miracles!

But how did this place of need and concern become a place of abundance? ("Enough to give away..." has long been our prayer - 2 Cor.9:11)I began to see a series of prayers there in this story.

First the prayer for compassion. When Jesus saw the crowds he felt compassion. He had gone to a remote place to get a rest! But the crowds had followed... and he had compassion and taught them and healed them.
We need to ask for such compassion. The disciples had concern...'What are we to do with them?' but not yet compassion. Compassion leads us to give of ourselves, to cry out to the Father to make us able to give more. It will take us to places we would not always choose, but we will go because compassion compels us. It will cause us to seek for innovative ways to meet the needs of others. It will make us a seeking, praying person. Let us cry out for the compassion of Jesus to flood our hearts for those we are to serve.

Then there is the prayer of helplessness. Jesus said to them 'You feed them!' What! How could they - it would cost a fortune. They felt helpless. John's gospel says this was a test from Jesus. Would they spin out - or would they look to him for the answer? There is a prayer we can pray in our helpless times. It is found in 2 Chronicles 20. In a time a national crisis, facing a crushing defeat, King Jehoshaphat cries out at the end of verse 12 "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."
This prayer opens the way to miracles. As long as we look for a natural solution we will not be able to receive his supernatural one. "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." What a great prayer!

He took away their confusion by saying 'What do you have? Give it to me.' This seems to be his frequent request of us. 'Just give me what you have - no matter how little it is.' Then they hand over the little lunch they have. Surrender. Putting our all in his hands. Very simple, but often very hard. Why? Because it requires a deep trust. We feel we will lose something - but the reality is that our lives - every bit of them, are safer in his hands than ours. We have bought into the oldest of lies that we cannot trust God. Renounce that lie - and rest everything in his safest of hands. Pray the prayer of surrender.
Also what we need to believe is that what we have in our hands is enough... IF IT IS PUT IN HIS HANDS. It is not what we can do – it is what HE can do through what we put in his hands. And it is more than we can imagine. That's his promise.

Then there is a prayer from Jesus - he blesses the food - and it multiplies. He lifted it up to the Father and it became enough for thousands. He does this over and over as lives are laid down for his Kingdom's sake. One little life can feed thousands... and bring thousands into new life with him. We have to get out of the mentality that we are just one little insignificant life. No! No! No! We have the Lord of Life within us... so great multiplying is possible - if we have his compassion, if we own our helplessness, if we surrender all into his hands... then the blessing and sharing can begin.

What an amazing God we have - what a compassionate Father - what a marvellous Lord Jesus - what a shepherding Spirit who leads us into all truth and great fruitfulness.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

The truth about surrender

2011-06-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

Since the garden of Eden, trusting God with all of our lives has been hard. Adam and Eve bought into the lie that God could not be trusted to act for our highest good. So they took matters into their own hands. We have inherited this instinct that if we don't make the choices and if we don't make life work for us - no-one else will.
And our life experiences often seem to confirm this!

So when Jesus says to us "Trust me with your whole life", we hesitate. We want guarantees. We can feel unsafe handing it all over to someone else. But the truth is that when God created us were always intended to live under his wise and loving rule. His plans and his ways and his intentions for our lives are the best that could ever be devised. Anything we intend is pathetic in contrast.

Surrendering the control of every part of our life to him is truly 'sweet surrender.' We no longer have to live in fear and worry - we no longer have to find all the answers. We no longer have to carry the weight of our choices. He will carry all the good and the bad - and work it out for our good. That's how it was always entended to work, as we partner with him. We are simply returning to the original wonderful life God shaped for us before sin came. Who wouldn't want that? It's a no-brainer!

Stunning stories

2011-06-27T13:30:00.000-07:00

In a little corner of south-west Wales (UK)there are miracles happening. At the retreat centre called Ffald-y-Brenin, grace is being poured out in astonishing ways. I have just read in one sitting the book 'The Grace Outpouring' and am reeling with amazement. This is happening NOW! Read this story:

Sam had lost his wife to cancer in a short six months. He had many praying, supporting friends. One day he came to the retreat centre. He decided to walk down to the cross (a large one on the cliff overlooking the sea). About twenty yards away he could not go any further. It was as if he had hit a brick wall. Next day he tried again and the same thing happened. Then the Lord said 'I want to touch the grief in your heart.' He sobbed for some time. Then the Lord said 'I want to touch your tremendous anger.' And he raged for some time, then received the Lord's assurance of healing and that He had carried the pain of it all for some time.

Then he got up and walked straight to the cross and put his arms around it. He later said it felt like his heavenly Father put his arms around him. It was like two people who hadn't seen each other for some time, hugging like old friends.pp 105-6

Another story - One day an American woman rang and asked if she could come. She was a hippie type in her mid-twenties. She was desperate for a place to stay, but not into Christian things. So they did not press her about anything. But over the following days she came to chapel and the daily prayers and was willing to pray some simple daily prayers. On the Friday she stated over coffee that she disliked Christians because they said there was only one way to God. Without debate it was explained that Jesus made this claim.

The next morning she was trembling with excitement. "Why haven't you told me the truth?...Why didn't you tell me that God is my Father, that he made me, that he has a plan for my life? Why didn't you tell me that he loves me desperately, that I've never been on my own? Why didn't you tell me that Jesus really is his Son, that when he died he took my sin? Why didn't you tell me that he's exalted him to his right hand? Why didn't you tell me that Jesus can come now into my heart to live and make me a new person? Why didn't you tell me this?"

They stood there, open mouthed and asked, 'How did you know all this?'
"Because he's done it this morning, hasn't he? He's come into my heart and he's changed me; I'm a new person. Why didn't you tell me all this?"

She also said she had experienced 'the fire'. "He can put his fire on you so that you can blaze for him, and when you encounter other people, the fire he's put on you can touch other people, so they catch fire for him as well."

Later that day as she went for a walk she felt moved to speak to a man on the street. It was a word of prophecy for him. "God has said that he has heard your prayer, and you are not to worry, because he is responding to your prayer." He looked at her and burst into tears and asked if she was an angel! That morning he had cried out to God and asked him to indicate he had heard by sending an angel to tell him!

Then she went to the pub and a young man there noticed she was different to the last time he saw her. So she told him to come to Ffald-y-Brenin. So he drove there with her and as soon as he entered the chapel the Spirit fell on him and he wept for several hours non-stop and was completely transformed!
pp 34-38 The Grace Outpouring available from www.ffald-y-brenin.org

It makes my heart ache for this reality here among us! We live just expecting to be encouraged or warmed - not radically changed!! Fall on us Spirit of God. Do these works of grace and transformation.

The battle for our emotions

2011-06-16T14:57:00.000-07:00

When Jesus said 'Fear not, I have overcome the world' - he was talking about all the turmoil of life, which tips us into fear. Our emotions can see-saw all over the place in a day. What can keep us without fear? (from James Jordan - see previous blog)
There is a battle for our emotions says James. And the solution in this case is not quoting Scripture or surrendering our will, but it is the Father's love that 'casts out fear'. "It takes an emotion (God's) to overwhelm and replace our emotions. As we are able to receive Father's love our emotional make-up will change. Not our personality, but the experience of yourself will be different and others will experience you differently.

Worry and fear can destroy us. We all have this in some measure. If we are tossed about by our emotions we are diminished in our effectiveness. Jesus was not disabled. He could live in peace and joy. The enemy could not disrupt who he was and the way he was walking in peace."

"His love in our hearts (tangibly) will change our emotional experience of ourselves. If you were completely convinced Almighty God loved you as his only child you wouldn't be able to worry if you tried. You would know he would do the best for you in all situations."

"Jesus is saying, "In me you can overcome the emotional roller-coaster from what is around you." We cannot transmit the love of the Father if the world is lord of our emotions. Come to the place where you truly want his peace."

I have 'experienced myself differently' of late. So many things no longer 'bug' me - it must be his peace residing in those previously touchy, easily offended places. I am experiencing my husband differently. He had an encounter with Love a few weeks back that has changed his emotional response to me, and to life. He is 'loving' things (enjoying things) that he was previously indifferent to. I keep feeling 'WOW -how amazing.'

But this is not a 'finished' work. Regularly the Lord exposes another area that needs surrendering, or renewing, or inviting a washing with love to happen. It is a delightful journey of renewal. I am not frustrated with the process as I was a year ago. I can see 'the way ahead'. It is a joy to see others discovering this too.

Our three battles

2011-06-13T15:06:00.000-07:00

Listened to James Jordan on CD (www.fatherheart.net)teaching on what Jesus meant by 'I have overcome the world'. He said there are three battles for us.
The battle for our mind - which needs renewing by the Word.
The battle for our will - which needs to surrender to his will out of trust and
The battle for our heart - which needs to encounter the love of the Father because only his heart can heal and captivate our heart.
mmmm - lots to chew on.
(the 'overcoming the world' goes after this is understood - see next blog)

I am aware there are places in me where the enemy sneaks in still. Does that mean a) my mind is not renewed there, or b) my will is not surrendered (I cannot trust his goodness there) c) my heart is still wounded or not at rest in this place and needs more heart encounters?

I have settled on 'my will is not surrendered', because there is an inkling of distrust still. I found that distrust by asking 'what is underneath this behaviour?'
'Am I at rest, at peace on this?' NO! So there is some fear or distrust coming out of some experience. (Tracing it back is always helpful). So I am left with the question, 'How did that get in... what opened me up to this distrust?' This is now what I must take to the Lord for his renewal as I forgive.

We can know what is right and good, but our deep heart can be fearful/untrusting and reacting. What a joy to know that everything was provided for in the cross. The whole exchange was made by Jesus, so we can know the Father and walk in life and joy and trust in all things.

Keep on revealing Holy Spirit. I want to be free!

Is this why they turn away?

2011-05-30T13:49:00.000-07:00

I have been reading and listening and watching lots of teaching about discovering the Father as our Abba, our Daddy. Time and again the speaker has said they knew Jesus as Saviour, then they encountered the Holy Spirit, but still something was missing for them and at a deep level they were insecure or locked up... until they encountered the Father's love. They now know that we need to know and experience all three persons of the Trinity.

A penny dropped for me the other day. I have often puzzled as to why people seem to really love the Lord - then later fall away to an apparent unbelief. 'I'm over that.' 'Tried it, doesn't work.' Is it possible that they did not really 'come home' to the the home we were created for - the home where all three are real and dear to us: Father, Son and Spirit? For unless we do there is a feeling that we are a bit of a split personality. Despite a 'renewed mind' and a heart that loves Jesus, and being open to the Spirit - there is a deep place within us that still distrusts, or is disappointed (and apt to question and misinterpret what God is doing). Or our faith is compromised by uncertainty.

People cannot continue to live with this lack of integration - these pockets of 'unbelief' deep within. Either we cover them up and become somewhat false and mechanical, or we live compromised lives that one day get exposed or we just drift into ungodly living. The 'unloved' and 'unhealed' part is our Achilles heel that makes us a special target for the enemy.

I wonder if this is why many turn away. They may well have know they are forgiven, and they belong to God... but perhaps have not encountered the power of the gospel to change them - and most certainly they haven't encountered the love of the Father to bring them deep security and confidence. What a shame. Who will tell them?

Resting and Roaring

2011-05-24T13:21:00.000-07:00

I was journalling recently about how the flow of intercession that I have known for many years seems to have gone to a trickle. But realised that I am learning about resting prayer - learning simply to trust, as a child, and not work hard at prayer.

So I was taken aback recently to find myself roaring with 'authority' and indignation when praying with some friends. I used to roar at my three mischievious boys (out of frustration and a lack of grace!) but those days are well over - they are now in their 30s and 40s! So what was going on in these prayer-times?

The first time, I felt a rush of indignation and a 'this should not be' feeling - and I loudly quoted Scripture and paced about and declared what will be according to his word. The second time we were praying tenderly for a woman who has an affliction that has almost ruined her life for years. It isolates her from others, and causes her deep distress. I found myself loudly 'cursing' this affliction in Jesus' name and commanding it to leave. It feels like a roar from within. So I guess we could say that 'The Lion of Judah' (Aslan)had a roar through me. Presumptious? Well, it was not 'me' in the sense that I was content to be gentle and restful, and suddenly this came out.

Perhaps this is the answer to my questions about intercession. He will do his thing when it suits him... I am to rest and enjoy and express his love - and if needed the roar will come too. He is, after all, the Lion and the Lamb - so I can rest - and roar.

"Pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers..." Eph.5:18

Another parable from our cat

2011-05-23T13:35:00.000-07:00

Last year I posted this story of our cat, Cinamon. She refused to sit on our knees. But prayer changed that. Read the curious story below. But now... I see another meaning in this story. Read the story - then the new awareness.

We have a cute and gentle cat - Cinamon by name - who was being robbed of the joy of sitting on our knees! About 18 months ago she took offense at a second cat we took on as a favour to an elderly neighbour who had to go into care. Fluff cat, was old and insistent that she alone belonged on our knees. So Cinamon backed off with much bad humour. Fluff cat went to the happy hunting ground over a year ago - and still Cinamon held her grudge.
But one day a few weeks ago, I thought "Why is this animal still refusing to sit on our knee? The old one has died!" So I took her in my arms and spoke firmly and kindly close to her heart.... "Sweetie pie, I know you were offended by Fluff girl, but she is not here any more. She is gone! You can now sit on our knees anytime you want. In Jesus name I release you from this offense and say 'Get on our knees!' This is where you belong!"
I honestly did not think it through... it was just spontaneous... and I did not think about it any further.
But the next evening she walked along the back of the couch and then down my shoulder and onto my knee - where she slept for some time. She continues to get on my knee or David's knee. The problem has gone! I continue to be amazed... but should I? Are we not to speak life and order into all creation?

So here is the new insight. What if we are the cat, and the Father is me? He calls us to come home to where we belong. There is no reason (except the perceptions in our head and heart) for us not to sit on his knee and feel 'at home'- to be comforted and delighted in. So what stops us? Offenses... a false picture of God? Mmmm. How about this prayer?
Father, speak to our spirit through your Spirit in us. Tell us where we belong and
how much you want us close to you. We need to know that 'the old is gone, and the new has come.'Because of Jesus there is now no reason at all not to 'sit on your knee.' Open our ears to your loving call. Thank you Jesus that you are the Way into the Father's arms.

The curious thing...

2011-05-23T13:16:00.000-07:00

Hi there,
If you are new to this blog - I suggest you go back to about a year ago when I began a new learning curve and read the progression of discoveries.
Life has been full - and good. Now there are less deadlines, I hope to write more often.
So many prayers have been answered lately. I have cried out with groans for things to change, for years in some instances... and now they have. Is this about his timing? Maybe... but it is also about the fact that my heart is ready. There is a curious thing - we pray that situations will change, people will change... and underneath it all - he is aiming at US being changed. I have talked to a number of people on this... and we have agreed, that when our hearts are aligned with the Lord's, when his love has washed and renewed US, this sort of 'rubs off' on those people we consider 'need to be changed'. A friend said that since she had heart renewal, her previously antagonistic sister now calls her for prayer, and there no longer seems to be a barrier in HER heart. Curious, isn't it!

My husband and I are enjoying a new paradigm of viewing life through the lens of being held and loved by the Father... and it has now changed our hearts towards each other. Before - I had a list of things I felt we could not talk about and make progress... there seemed to be blank walls - but now, there is no list and no walls. And we haven't had to battle through hard conversations. It has all melted away in the Father's love.
You see, when Love comes, fears, demands, complaints, defensiveness, assumptions... they just melt away. I made some suggestions to my beloved about a more effective way to do something (touching his most precious area of self-worth) and he did not flinch one bit. I was astounded! He just said, 'OK, I'll try and remember that. Thanks' Not a flicker of defensiveness. What freedom! What a joy. This is 'the power of his love.'

Unquenchable Love

2011-04-28T13:29:00.000-07:00

1. How do you view his cross? Do you ask that haunting question ‘What have I done?’ Are you conscious of your sin that put him there? Do you feel shame?
2. Do you question ‘Why?’ Why would he die for me? I am not worthy of such suffering. Do you feel unworthiness?
3. Do you feel grief at the depth of his suffering – Shuddering as you try to imagine how horrific it all was? Do you feel a deep sympathy for him?
4. Do you look with longing at such love, such amazing grace, such a stupendous plan that has dealt once and for all with the problem of sin and our separation from God and think ‘I wish it really worked for me?’
5. Or do you look with wonder – do you marvel at this master stroke of our loving God - who has changed the course of history by this one death…and say ‘Love so amazing, so divine shall have my soul, my life, my all.’ Does this love call you to surrender, to trust, to rest?
I read recently a book with the curious but wonderful title. ‘The Relentless tenderness of Jesus’. It’s a great word isn’t it ‘relentless’ – unstoppable – untiring – unceasing.
I remember standing many times by the Victoria Falls which borders Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is a huge waterfall a mile wide and a 400 ft. drop. A massive volume of water pours over it for 7-8 months of the year. It is mesmerising. It is relentless – pouring, pouring, pouring…. Absolutely fascinating. I thought many times - ‘This is like the love of God’ – relentless, unstoppable, undiminished, unending.
Every step Jesus took towards the cross was a demonstration of this relentless, unstoppable love conquering every obstacle every resistance, every challenge. He embraced humility in being made into a man, he ‘humbled himself’ says Philippians 3 – he left his glory behind and came as a naked baby to a peasant couple in an obscure village in an oppressed and brutalised land.
He pushed through misunderstandings, opposition, disappointments – he endured threats, insults, rejection, contrivances, plots …he was bruised by hard-heartedness, unbelief…. he was wounded by mockery, betrayal, anguish, heart-ache…. he experienced fears, unimaginable physical pain, inconceivable defilement, and felt devastating abandonment.
He was demonstrating to us that love never gives up – love never fails – love is not self-seeking – love always hopes – always perseveres. Unrelenting… unquenchable…
One writer – Baxter Kruger describes it like this:
The reality that drives the coming of Jesus Christ, and pushes him even to the cross, is the relentless and determined passion of the Father to have us as His beloved children. He will not abandon us. It has never crossed the Father's mind to forsake His original plans for us. Jesus is the proof.
Why did Jesus Christ die? What happened in his death? Jesus Christ died because the Father would not forsake us, because the Father had a dream for us that He would not abandon, because the love of the Father for us is endless and unflinching. And Jesus died because the only way to get from the Fall of Adam to the right hand of the Father was through the crucifixion of our old Adamic existence.
Jesus Christ did not go to the cross to change God; he went to the cross to change us. Jesus Christ went to the cross to call a halt to the Fall and undo it, to convert our fallen existence to his Father, to systematically eliminate our estrangement, so that he could accomplish his Father's dream for our adoption as his children.

Jesus was demonstrating to us that when the Fall happened the whole God-head said “NO!” – we will not walk away and abandon those we have created in love and for love.” Immediately, in that garden, a promise was given that this evil plan would be undone. And century after century God prepared a time and a place and a way that love would redeem this broken world. And it happened here at the cross. Here is what the world calls ‘foolishness’ but what God calls wisdom, and power, and glory – the perfectly perfect and completely complete answer to all sin and brokenness and destruction.

An exciting learning curve

2011-03-31T05:16:00.000-07:00

The year has begun with so much going on. A son and his wife staying... the earthquake in Christchurch (south of us, about a 45 minute flight) with significant loss of life and huge damage... a 6 day school with such wonderful input - all needing to be absorbed... and lots of deadlines with teaching a course, sermons, articles etc. I am really looking forward to later in April where I intend to take some time out to read, ponder, pray and write.
The earthquake (and the one in Japan, with the terrible sunami) left us with a sense of heaviness of heart - and a deep awareness that life is fragile and precious - and we have no guarantees of time.

In all of this I feel I am in an exciting learning curve - learning to live from a different paradigm - of resting in the Father's love. I have become aware of places in my heart that still need to open up to his love. I had some prayer with a colleague and was able to let go hidden false beliefs, and hear new truths reverberate within me.

We discovered the so, so helpful teaching of Ed Piorek at www.thefatherlovesyou.com and have been devouring his books and DVDs. Also tapped into Baxter Kruger, a wonderful and articulate theologian and teacher - catch him on www.dancinggod.org - his understanding of the Trinity is astounding.

It feels like I have new lenses on - and am seeing the Scriptures, the Lord, and life from a whole new viewpoint. It is all about living out of the heart, not the mind - about being a child of a delighted Father - about living a life of love (not simply 'faith') and this changes everything.

A thought to ponder on: What was your father's message to you about life? Mine was 'don't let people down - always be responsible'. Others have said it was 'Why can't you get it right?'or 'You'll never amount to much.' We subconsciously live out of that message - until we unravel it.
Our Heavenly Father says, 'You are my beloved child, in you I am well pleased.' This, we must live out of. It changes everything!

Your sighs are his longings

2011-03-02T15:11:00.000-08:00

New Revelation

Many of us are coming into a new thing right now, with a new call or new responsibilities or a new role.
What does it mean for you this year? What does it mean for your relationship with God?

In this upgrade, God wants to declare something else to you about Himself. You see, God always wants to be something significant for us. The question shouldn’t be, ‘‘Why is this happening to me?’’ The ‘‘why’’ question is never answered on earth. It is the wrong question. It should be, ‘‘What is it that God wants to be for me now that He couldn’t be at any other time, in any other way?’’ What is it about your current situation that is designed to bring you into a deeper relationship with God? Every circumstance in our life is about that – difficulty and blessing. If you’re being severely challenged right now, God wants to be something for you. If you’re walking in incredible favor and transformation, He’s showing you His nature in that, as well.

God wants to declare what He is becoming to you. Like Moses, you have fresh favor to ask Him to go deeper. God is the sneakiest Person on the planet. You cannot have a desire for Him that is unmatched by His desire for you. In fact, if you really want to know where you are with God, check out what is in your own heart. What are you sighing about right now? During those times you sit in the presence of God and your heart sighs for Him, what is it you are sighing for? Understand that your sigh originated in His heart. It is His longing for you, reaching out to you!

When you understand what it is your spirit is sighing for, you will understand exactly what He wants to do. You cannot have a desire or longing for God that He did not put there. Your heart for Him is simply a reflection of His heart for you; God has us longing for the things He most wants to give us.

A purposeful God

When God showed Moses His glory, it was not a spontaneous act. God was being purposeful with His servant; He had this planned for quite a while. It was part of His step-by-step plan to reveal Himself to Moses. What is the nature of your current request of God? In your relationship with Him, what are you asking for? What is the Holy Spirit doing in your life right now? What is He provoking in you? What are you longing for? These are questions you must think through and meditate on, because God’s plan for the next phase of your call is already in action. He has been purposeful with you from the very beginning.

‘‘However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.’’ John 16:13

From The Nature of God by Graham Cooke

Recommended resources – see Graham Cooke’s books and journals on www.brilliantbookhouse.com

Is Surrender Sweet?

2011-02-16T08:21:00.000-08:00

For some years before I met the Lord, I was afraid of 'surrendering my life' to Jesus. It felt as if I would lose something, I would no longer 'be myself'. This was a lie, a myth in my head. I think there was a mournful edge to songs about surrender then, that made it seem like a death, not an entry into true life that it was really.

When I finally did, at age 30, it was totally life-giving! I came alive to God, to the Word, to the Spirit, to Jesus as a real person. I 'kicked myself', so to speak, for resisting it for so long. Clearly we were created to live as 'His', to live as vessels filled with his life, as those in partnership with him. No-one said it like that. It was described in negative terms, not positive.

I am delighted, as I explore further the Father's love, to hear over and over again, "We are created to receive love, and give it away." Anything less is not living out our potential, our whole reason for living. Surrender to love, surrender to life is so sweet, so restful, such a relief from 'trying hard' to be something we cannot on our own. It is the place of rest that Jesus promises. His yoke is restful and life-giving. It sounds an oxymoron, but it is not. We were not created to live any other way.

Living in this sweet surrender is like a duck taking to water for the first time - Or a young fledgeling taking to the air, or a caterpillar emerging from the crysallis ready to fly - or a hot air balloon rising to the sky. Let us get the right picture in our minds and an expectation in our hearts, and throw off the myths, the life-sucking lies, and get flying!

Praying his prayers

2011-02-09T14:23:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday I heard a prayer that declared what God had for us, not asked if he would do these things. It was a faith prayer - born out of a word or vision planted in the heart of the woman praying. "Lord you will.... Thank you!"
Ahhhh but... you may say. How can we know the will of God that precisely? A good question. This is the work of the Spirit. He quickens our hearts in prayer, or even just in daily life, while reading Scripture or hearing a story. It is like something grabs your guts (inner being!) and squeezes and everything within you says "Yes!" Like when Mary greeted Elizabeth and the child 'leapt in her womb'. Our spirit is hearing His Spirit and leaps for joy.

I have also heard a woman pray with fervour, energy and zeal and when she has finished say "I am SO excited at what God is doing!" and others look at her blankly!
She has been quickened by the Spirit with a longing, a burden... as if the Lord has said "Here, pray this for a while, because that is what I want to do, and I need someone to bring it to birth."

Of such prayers, of faith and birthing, do things happen in the Kingdom. This is his way. And we can be part of it. It requires us getting our eyes up - off our selves and our struggles - and recognising he is sovereign and he is at work - and he births new things through willing hearts who will be open to his enlivening voice.
More Lord... we need these kind of prayers. They are the pumping of your heart beat for us. Keep us expectant.

An astounding picture of heaven

2011-01-31T04:03:00.000-08:00

from "The Sacred Romance" Brent Curtis and John Eldredge 1997

"Our longing for intimacy gives us the greatest scent of the joys that lie ahead. Being left out is one of life's most painful experiences. Throughout our lives, each one of us lives with a constant nagging that we never quite fit in, we never truly belong. So we hide parts of ourselves to try and fit in, or kill our desire to be an insider, rather than let our longing lead us toward the true intimacy for which we were designed.
On the other hand there is the joy of having someone save a place for us. We walk into a crowded room at church or at a dinner party and someone across the way waves us over, pointing to a chair he's held on to especially for us. For a moment we feel a sense of relief, a taste of being on the inside.

Now consider the words of Jesus in John 14:2 - "I'm going to prepare a place for you." He is saving a place in heaven especially for each of us. When we walk into the crowded excitement of the wedding feast of the Lamb, with the sound of a thousand conversations, laughter and music, the clinking of glasses, and one more time our heart leaps with the hope that we might be let into the sacred circle, we will not be disappointed. We'll be welcomed to the table by our Lover himself. No one will have to scramble to find another chair, to make room for us at the end of the table, or rustle up a place setting. There will be a seat with our name on it, held open at Jesus' command for us and no other........

Heart or head?

2011-01-31T03:49:00.000-08:00

I am planning some teaching sessions on prayer. I love the description someone has of meditation. He said it was 'descending WITH the mind into the heart'.
Some people engage life directly from the heart - we say of them, "They are all heart." Others engage life mostly from the head. They ponder, analyse, calculate, question, study and learn. They can be considered too 'detatched'. But for them, the heart can burst into flame at any point. It is a case of looking for, or falling over the doorways.

Clearly for me, a head person, water is a doorway to heart encounters. And sometimes a phrase, in the Scriptures or something I am reading, will just captivate and hold me and everything within me is suddenly vibrating with joy, or wonder, or tenderness or love.

Over these last three weeks, with some visits away, then some days at home - I have found it hard to find those doorways. I 'went with the flow' of those I was with... but it left me feeling rather empty. I must, next holiday season, be less accomodating to others, and more to the need of these doorways to my heart. I am bouyed by the knowledge that in a few weeks I will be on a 6 day retreat where I expect more heart encounters to occur.

I need to go back to letting the Scripture assist me in 'descending with the mind into the heart' - a simple but effective way of meeting the Lord in his word.

A superb symbol

2011-01-04T09:36:00.000-08:00

We have had a week by the sea (and more coming soon). I was walking along a deserted beach early in the morning. The waves pounded rythmically on the shore - and I looked out to the vast expanse of ocean. We were on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. I was facing towards South Africa - thousands of miles away! And the song came to mind - "Here is love, vast as the ocean, loving-kindness as the flood..." James Jordan has said, 'Why did the writer use this image of the vast ocean to describe the love of God? Probably because one day he fell into it!'

I was moved to worship, standing by that vast ocean in front of me. It is a superb symbol of what God has called us into - immersed us in! His vast ocean of love and goodness and mercy and kindness and richness. Just thinking about it washed me again in his love. I fell into this ocean years ago when I was 30. My sense of being held by his love stayed for some time, but then I lost touch - and dryness and sinful choices robbed me for some time of this joy. Then again, it returned one day by the sea, as I pondered what it was to be emmersed in Christ. And now my understanding has enlarged (we are to grow in grace ...what is freely given, and understanding, how our minds and hearts interpret and view what is freely given) so that I can recall and return to that grace simply and easily.

The Astounding Honour of being Chosen

2010-12-25T11:27:00.000-08:00

Some thoughts from a Christmas message I gave...

God takes hold of us – he redeems our lives – he reveals himself to us – he moves us from the Kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of his dear son…. He CHOOSES us to be his friends, to hear his secrets, to bear his life and produce his fruit.

We have really been robbed by this feeble phrase we keep using about our conversion - ‘I made a commitment!’ We are a chosen people, set apart for his goodness and glory. CHOSEN and cherished and appointed and set apart for his glory.

I love all the cameos of people in the Christmas story. There’s the young woman Mary and her solid reliable man Joseph. There’s the grey haired, pregnant Elizabeth and her bumbling husband Zechariah. There’s the old man Simeon, eager with hope, ‘Now I can die in peace. My eyes have seen your salvation.’
And the faithful, fasting, old Anna, dancing with joy over seeing the Messiah – unable to contain herself.

When Mary was told she was chosen to bear this most holy child, the long awaited Messiah - her only words were “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be to me as you have said. “ No drama, no questions…only humility, awe, a deep sense of honour.

And she hurries to see Elizabeth – and Elizabeth is given the awareness that Mary carries the Messiah - the Spirit overflows in her with a joyful cry – “You are blessed above all other women. And what an honour that you should visit me! You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
Can you hear the awe and amazement in her – and see the insight she has? Insight comes as we humble ourselves toward God’s amazing choices and plans. When we place ourselves UNDER his word, we are in a position to get understanding, and see more of what it means.

And Mary has an overflow of joy and exultation:
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour …” She is awed at being chosen. Astonished at what God is doing. She describes his mercy and his might, ‘He scatters the proud – he exalts the lowly – he satisfies the hungry.’ Her focus is on HIM. This is what happens when we know we are chosen.

And she bears fruit that lasts – not just the child she bore – but the words she sang. People have praised God with her words for 2,000 years and will until the end of time. The life of John the Baptist, that Elizabeth had the honour to bear, has changed lives all through the last 2 milleniums… and will keep doing it. This is what happens when we say ‘Let it be to me as you have said.’

And there’s our special word woven all through this story… ‘chosen’…chosen to bear the Messiah, chosen to carry the forerunner John – chosen to ‘pray in’ the hope of Israel – chosen to seek outJesus said: “You have not chosen me … throw that idea out - but I have chosen you…”
Does this astonish you – are you humbled and awed by this? Does your heart overflow in worship and praise and proclamation about the greatness of God as a result? I have chosen you… what for?

We are chosen to hear his voice - as a friend hears the confidences of one who trusts them. ‘You are my friends, not my servants, because I have confided in you everything the Father has told me.’
We are chosen to hear the secrets of the Father. He wants to share his heart with us – he wants to share his longings for those you love – for your neighbours and workmates – for a world that will see him one day. WHAT AN HONOUR… are we listening with an open heart?

We are chosen to reveal his goodness. “Let your light shine so that everyone will see your good works and say ‘Wow, isn’t God good!” Our lifestyle – our choices are intended to make people astonished at God. We are chosen to be his representatives through the kind of life we lead.

Do you struggle with feeling you not good enough? Every time we say “I’m not good enough’ we deny the work of the cross. It is a quite offensive to God to keep looking at our own level of righteousness. He only looks at Jesus – so should we. ‘Is he righteous enough?’ is God’s question. Yes – then so are you. God says “I’ve got it covered.” He has included us in Christ, immersed us in Christ - so there is never any question again of our righteousness.

Do you say ‘But I can’t do these things?”
Every time we say “I can’t do this…’ we deny the ability of the Spirit to work in us - and we say the promises of God are not true.

Why do we do this? Why do we evaluate our performance in an unscriptural way all the time? It is because we don’t know how gloriously, astoundingly saved we are. I heard a speaker say recently - ‘We need to know how saved we are.’ What we are saved from, and what saved for. We need eyes to see that we are chosen, and appointed, and fully provided for.
1 Peter 1:3 “I have given you everything you need for life and godliness.” He has redeemed us out of the hand of our enemy - and has chosen us for a mission – an adventure with him – and all we need to accomplish that mission has already been made available.
What did Mary say to the astounding announcement she received, ‘Let it be as you have said.’ Let what you have said come to pass. That’s faith. Do we say that? ‘ I am chosen – how amazing, what an honour!
I am appointed to bear fruit that lasts. Let it be! Let it be!’ It is the agreement of our whole being with the wonderful purposes of God. Chosen – picked out from the crowd – and appointed – given a role and an assignment – that will bear eternal fruit.

Do you know what that appointment is? What is it that God has shaped you for in this life? You have talents, skills, gifts, longings, dreams. You were crafted by him – his work of art – for good things that will reverberate into eternity – EVEN BEFORE YOU WERE BORN. (See Ephes.2:10)

This appointment/assignment from God is not determined by a role you might have – or the place you serve. It is about what you impart into this world – into others. Hope, encouragement, wisdom, resources, bringing order, bringing clarity, comforting and healing…The assignment stands – even if our roles and responsibilities and relationships all change. Find it – and you will find fulfillment wherever life takes you.

Christmas Contrasts

2010-12-22T09:19:00.000-08:00

Such strange contrasts this year...
Heaps of snow in the UK and Europe - tropical heat here in NZ with 95% humidity!
Bumped into a friend in the mall and she spontaneously said, "I hate all this!" - meaning the shopping, the glitz, the commercialism. "It has nothing to do with the real thing," she said. So we had a conversation about what to do with this peculiar thing called Christmas.

I am currently preparing for the Christmas Day Service - my angle is all the surprises that hit the different characters in the story... and the surprise to us all that God cares so much that he sent Jesus. Does it surprise us? The lavish grace, the extreme lengths of his love...? It is so easy for us to yawn our way through the story and not be impacted. I heard a minister at the local meeting say, "What can we say that we have not said before..." Mmmm... This is why I ask the Lord each year to see something fresh in this story. And he does not fail to reveal something to get excited or moved about.

I was surpised (gobsmacked) to go to a little house party and see this woman's home festooned with about 100 Santas, many of whom sang or danced... and numerous angels and lights and cutsy toys with Christmas clothes... the whole place was packed with it all - everyone had their mouths hanging open... She should charge for a visit! There were three nativity scenes too (one quite big and beautiful) and also a Santa cover and floor mat for the toilet!!! It was truly bizzare! I came home 'Santa'd out' and feeling very sad actually.

Then in contrast - the wonderful 'Random Acts of Culture' U Tube clip of the Messiah Hallelujah Chorus being sung in a big shopping mall. It made us weep with the joy of declaring who Jesus is in the midst of hedonism and commercialism. So, so wonderful.
Talk about contrast!

When we first settled back in NZ after 16 years in Africa, we found Christmas hard to do here. It was end of a long year... we were all tired and looking forward to a long hot summer holiday - and Christmas seemed to start end of October in the shops... and it seemed hard to make it meaningful. So we decided on 3 important things to include:
1. Find a time/way for meaningful worship - which was sometimes going to a lovely choral concert like the Messiah - and sometimes doing an evening at home of reflection and readings just to focus and worship.
2. Give to the needy in some way - we have done dinners on Christmas day for the lonely, given surprise gifts of money and food to needy families we know etc.
3. Tell the real story somehow. For some years we put on a Carol Festival with the story and carols and a brief message (not a concert - or a formal 9 lessons..)- we have also visited neighbours with carols and a blessing prayer - and had a local carol evening and told the story. It seems a shame not to use this time of year to proclaim the good news.

Again this year we have aimed at these three things. The rest we can do or not do. If family are around we get together - if not we share with good friends (our chosen 'family').

Then I got a newsletter from Michelle Perry, a remarkable woman working in Sudan - read her Christmas update here and marvel with us. Please note, she has only one leg! and God uses her so powerfully. http://theunpavedroad.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/christmas2010.pdf Here is a snippet -

Jesus was born in a filthy stable to an unwed teenage mother in the back corner of an oppressed occupied land, spent His earliest years as a political refugee, grew up learning simple carpentry from his earthly father, spent His time among the forgotten and rejected and called a rag tag group of ruffians to turn the world upside down with love. He loves to use the very things we least expect and show up in places we would run from. What, beautiful Jesus, do you have planned for this storm‐tossed patch of earth and its peoples?
So Jesus, You said to ask of You (Ps 2:8). Here I am. For Christmas this year, I would like a nation. Sudan. All of it. Every tribe and language and dusty forgotten corner, every war‐torn bit of outback, each of the 3 million orphans longing for a home: I want them all. I want Your glory to cover this nation as waters the sea, to see a tidal wave of love sweep through our midst.

All I want for Christmas is.....? What? What is worthy of his love - his sacrifice?

The unsatisfying symbol

2010-12-19T04:16:00.000-08:00

After taking communion this morning at church, I thought 'Why would Jesus have instituted a symbol or ritual that could become empty and meaningless?' We take communion every Sunday - and I am not sure I want it that way. It seems hard to make it 'meaningful' each time. Many looked very disengaged. And I always wonder if it keeps us too plugged into his death for us - and not launching into his life and Kingdom and eternity... and all those other great things. Hmmm...

And tonight - again in the wee small hours (which is often when my head connects with my barely conscious musings and allows them to surface)... after a visit to friends and a lovely meal and precious conversation...we were given a luscious, very heavy Christmas cake to take home, dense with fruit soaked for two weeks she said, and the top smothered in all manner of dried fruits, and almonds... yuuuum! We had a tiny bite each when we got home - and David said, "I would prefer it with custard" because it is so very rich. Feasting, rich food...such is Christmas.

Then I thought again of communion. We take a tiny square of bread, and a thimble sized amount of juice (or a sip of a common cup.) Mmmm is that an inadequate symbol for the rich feasting we are called to enjoy 'at his table'? Would that bread satisfy a real hunger? Would that juice satisfy a real thirst? Does this tiny taste in any way speak of the lavish love and the abundant grace that is there for us. I pictured the broken body - the whole body - not a tiny little bit... and the blood gushing from his side - a river, not a thimbleful! Something doesn't make sense here.

Does our neat and tidy and tiny symbols speak loudly enough to us of the rich feast? My husband decided some while back to take the biggest piece of bread on the plate - because he believes in abundant grace! But here's the worry - are we also just nibbling on HIM, just sipping a drop now and then? Do we really hunger and thirst and say 'I will not let you go until you lavishly bless me?!!!' Have we in our deepest heart a sense of the mighty ocean of love for us that flows from the Father's heart - or the groaning table of grace that we can feast from. Are our images too small - so our expectations are too small?

The Scripture so often uses the word 'ALL'. "All grace for all situations.." "The God of all comfort.." No limits here. No tiny morsels.

What if next time I led communion I talked about this - and used lavish amounts of bread and red juice... ? That would startle us all! But the next time - would we just go back to our tiny portions. Sigh... what to do? Father - your wisdom please?

"Fear not!"

2010-12-14T04:04:00.000-08:00

How many times are those words spoken in Scripture. I heard someone once say 365 - one for every day of the year. I haven't counted! But even in the Christmas story they are spoken a number of times.

In the Kingdom of love - the realm where God rules in all his goodness and love - there is no fear. His perfect love has cast out all fear. So is fear the root of sin and disobedience? If we trusted and did not fear, we would have no cause to sin, surely?

Jesus tells us not to fear lack or need. "Seek first the Kingdom of God... and all you need will be given you." Paul assures us in Romans 8 that we do not need to fear condemnation or being unacceptable, or being accused or being separated from the love of God.

I am becoming more and more aware of how love banishes fear. Whenever I find fear rising (about my computer messing up - about people not co-operating on something I consider important - about failing to meet deadlines or find the mental space to write a promised piece...) I speak to my soul about being loved, now, by Abba Father ("He is loving me right now") and I speak to him as my big Daddy who can fix anything even while I sleep! I am more and more aware that I do not have to carry the 'weight' of things. That is his role, not mine. "Cast (throw rapidly) your care on him, for he cares for you." Soooo simple really.

But my heart still needs to learn - in all those little nooks and cranny's - to rest, to trust, to enjoy waiting for his answers. My 'make it happen' personality has to lie down quietly until the anxiety is replaced with restfulness. It feels almost like a game now... "Oh - here it comes again... that anxiety... now just lie down, my heart, and rest again in his love... there - that feels better! All will be well." I see waves rising and falling... and they seem smaller than they used to be. Hallelujah!

"Faithing" or Resting?

2010-12-13T09:30:00.001-08:00

I heard a new phrase from a video clip by Denise Jordan (see www.fatherheart.net) where she said she was often "Faithing it" - meaning speaking in faith in order to push through difficult circumstances.
I realised that I do that a lot. When adverse things happen, or threaten, or my feelings go negative, I speak the truth in faith and this 'steadies the ship' and I don't succomb to fear.

But there are other ways to get through the testings. Ways that do not require so much work! Trust/faith is also about resting. Learning that I am, to God my Father, his little child, has enabled me in a new way to rest, take my hands off, lean back into him and know that the 'battle belongs to the Lord' and I can trust him to work it out. So I can simply say 'I can't do this/work this out/fight this battle.. - it is yours Abba. You are my big Daddy. Please do something.' This is so restful, so simple. I do it regularly now. Much less of a sense of self-effort.

As the Dilmar ad says, "Do try it!"

Christmas contemplation

2010-12-13T09:25:00.000-08:00

From Bennan Manning (see previous post for p.1)

…The contemplative at Christmas, living one day at a time in a state of preparedness (in fact, homesickness) for the fullness of the Kingdom, listens intently as Paul tells the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

On an icy winter’s night two weeks before Christmas I was at O’Hare Airport in Chicago. All flights had been cancelled due to fog and freezing rain. The airport terminal was in bedlam. Thousands of people were clustered at the ticket counters demanding a projected departure time; others were wrapped in stoic silence. Children were crying, the public address system was blaring and the defeated were bellying up to the bar. I was tense and apprehensive. I had to get to Texas to start a retreat the next day. How could the Gospel be preached in Dallas if the weather wouldn’t shape up in Chicago?

Directly across from the plastic chair in which I was slumped sat a middle aged black woman with a child cradled in her arms. She was laughing. The world was collapsing, thousands were stranded, O’Hare was a shrieking snake pit and she was laughing! Irritated but also intrigued, I said to her,

“Ma’am, every other person here tonight is rattled and miserable. Would you mind telling me why you’re so happy?”

“Sho,” she said. “Christmas is coming and dat baby Jesus – He make me laugh.”

I repeated it to myself , Dat baby Jesus – He make me laugh!

Hmm! Am I getting too serious about life? Have I let my sense of childlike wonder fade? Am I so caught up in preaching, teaching, writing and travelling that I no longer hear the sound of rain on the roof? How long since I stopped making snowballs and flying kites? Am I growing uncomfortable with Jesus telling me to model my life after the birds and the flowers? Am I irritated with people, like this woman, who don’t seem to realise how serious life really is? Has getting serious about life meant becoming sad about life? Is living just another word for endurance?

Years ago I learnt that the name Isaac means laughter. When old Sarah was told she would soon be pregnant, she laughed in disbelief. But God had the last laugh. A son was born to them in their old age, and the mirthless human laugh of despair turned into the Father’s laughter of love. “They named their son ‘Laughter’ for he was a sign of the triumph of God’s levity over man’s gravity,” writes John Shea.

Jesus is God’s final laughter. Laughter is the celebration of incongruity, dissonance, lack of harmony. Nothing could be more incongruous in Hebrew tradition than a virgin having a baby. Christmas is a reminder that we need the laughter of God to prevent us from taking the world too seriously… The Christian law of levity says that whatever falls into the earth will rise again. God’s laughter is his loving act of salvation begun in Bethlehem, and Christian laughter is the echo of God’s joy within us.

Christmas is the awesome mystery of the messianic Son of God in diapers. For the contemplative at Christmas it is “glad tidings of great joy” that fills his heart with the laughter of the Father. I suspect that this is what my friend Carey Landry had in mind when he wrote that reverent and rollicking song, “And the Father Will Dance as on a Day of Joy.”

As Advent draws to a close, go to the Father and ask Him, “Abba, why are you dancing?” See him point to the manger and hear him say, “Christmas is coming and dat baby Jesus – He make me laugh!”

…My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, if you have been struck by the grace of Christmas, if the Lord in his mercy has given you the courage to accept acceptance, if you are convicted that Christmas is the decisive breakthrough of the passionate love of God in Jesus, if you trust that God is faithful to his promises, that he will finish what he began, that amazing grace is at work right now, that you have only checked into the hotel of earth overnight and you are en route to the heavenly Jerusalem, then in the immortal words of John Powell, “Please notify your face!”

On the other hand, if you have not been struck by the grace of Christmas, ask for it and it will be given.

The Contemplative at Christmas

2010-12-06T14:50:00.000-08:00

I can’t resist a great quote about Christmas from a book we are reading by Brennan Manning “The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus.” So lovely. It is a call to contemplate – to consider, ponder and wonder.
Chapter 12 ‘The Contemplative at Christmas’
He begins by quoting Paul Tillich
“To be struck by grace does not mean that we are simply making progress in our moral self-control, in our fight against special faults, and in our relationships to others. Moral progress may be the fruit of grace, but it is not grace itself. Grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restlessness. It strikes us when we walk through the dark valley of a meaningless and empty life… Grace strikes us when our disgust for our own being, our indifference, our weakness… and our lack of direction and composure has become intolerable to us.
Sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness and it is as though a voice were saying “You are accepted. You are accepted by that which is greater than you… Do not seek for anything; do not perform anything; do not intend anything. Simply accept the fact that you are accepted.”
If that happens to us we experience grace. After such an experience we may not be better than before, and we may not believe more than before. But everything is transformed.”

…In prayer we discover what we already have. We already have everything, but many of us do not know it and therefore don’t experience it. Everything has been given to us by the Father in Jesus. All we need now is to experience what we already possess. The most precious moments in prayer consist in letting ourselves be loved by the Lord.

…The contemplative at Christmas grows quiet before “the light (that) shines in the darkness” (John 1:5) He stills his soul and becomes tranquil like a child in its mother’s arms. He takes in to himself the mercy, forgiveness, reconciliation and love that are embodied in the Child of Bethlehem. He surrenders to the grace of the Word made flesh. He accepts acceptance.

…Hope remains unruffled by all the legalists…party poopers and prophets of doom who have appeared on the scene since that memorable midnight when Mary spanked her baby and the infant Jesus screamed joy into a hushed and waiting world. In the messianic cry, the Christmas contemplative discerns a sonorous, saving voice:

“Sshh! Be still. All is well. I am here. Do not be afraid. be afraid. The world is no longer in the hands of the Evil One but in the arms of a loving Shepherd. In the end everything will be all right. Nothing can harm you permanently. No suffering is irrevocable, no loss is lasting; no defeat is more than transitory, no disappointment is conclusive. Nothing can ever separate us – not troubles, worries, persecutions, not lack… not attacks or invasions. There is nothing in life or death that will ever come between you and the love of God made visible before your eyes in this manger tonight.”

(more coming...)

Our lens on life

2010-11-28T11:24:00.000-08:00

There is an itriguing chapter in Hannah W.Smiths book 'The God of all Comfort' which is entitled 'Much more versus much less'.
She says our view of things a)does not affect the reality of things but (b) our view affects our taking hold of these realities. "And while our safety comes from what things really are, our comfort comes from what we suppose them to be." Ahaaa! So very true.

How many times are we left oomfortless because we do not see things his way, and therefore cannot take hold of his comfort and encouragement.
I have heard two such cases in two days - where their view of reality is obscuring the richness of grace offered to them by our compassionate Father. And both push away any suggestion of there being a different view of their situation. They are locked into their stronghold of fear and despair.

Hannah goes on to write about the 'much mores' in Scripture... the abundance that is there for us - which we can find so hard to access if we have a 'much less'/poor me/ victim mentality.

I am finding that in threatening situations where I could be so discouraged or wounded - as I decare the good purposes of God - 'he intends to do me good in this'- the whole menace melts away and my heart is strengthened by the reality I choose to view life from. The English mystic Julian of Norwich said once, after reviewing the many trials and testings that were happening during her life-time, "His meaning is love." Sounds obscure? I think it simply means that God only sees us in love and intends for us to be held in his love come what may. We cannot attribute to him anything else. Because that is who he is. Our trial doesn't test if he loves us ('he would not allow this if he loved me...') - it simply tests if we can trust in his love and his loving purposes come what may. When our heart is at rest in his love - no storm can snatch us away from that safe place.

The Two Sides of Comfort

2010-11-25T05:58:00.000-08:00

My husband David wrote this for our church newsletter.

The Bible is full of “throw away lines”, brief comments or asides that are packed full of meaning. I noticed one in last week's passage, 2 Corinthians 1:4.

Paul says that God 'comforts him in all his troubles', a simple remark, but one that carries a lot of weight for Paul because of his history. Later in the letter he lists some of the situations he has been in – thrashed with forty lashes five times; beaten with rods three times; stoned; shipwrecked three times; in danger from all kinds of people and in all kinds of situations and so on... (See 2 Cor 11:23 for the full list). If anyone needed God’s comfort it is Paul and he says he always gets it. What a testimony!

And there’s more to his comment. The comfort he receives has breadth and depth to it.

The comfort Paul speaks of has two sides to it – the word “comfort” is both a picture of soothing and also a picture of strengthening. It’s a combination of a parent gently and soothingly tending to a little “wounded soldier” who’s fallen over but also dusting them off and saying. “OK. Let’s have another go at this”. We often use ‘encourage’ as a synonym for ‘comfort’, meaning that we’re trying to speak courage into someone who’s facing troubles.

The Bayeaux tapestry is a series of woven cartoons of William the Conqueror’s invasion of England in 1066. One panel shows a bishop on his horse poking a big lance into the backs of a line of soldiers getting ready to embark for England. The caption reads, "Bishop .... comforts the troops". That’s obviously not the soothing side of the word!

In all his troubles Paul knows the tender compassion of his loving Father but he also experiences God planting courage and strength into him to get back up and go on. May we, like Paul, receive both the gentle soothing and the strong encouraging and fortifying love of the Father of compassion and God of all comfort.

From Misery to Ministry

2010-11-25T05:53:00.000-08:00

I am still chewing on how God comforts us so we can comfort others - and was reminded of this quote:

“I am struck by the number of persons who are led to undertake a most creative work through their experience of their own or the world’s deep misery. They move from the initial experience of misery to some form of soul-searching and through to an experience of mystery, before they are led to the work they feel called to do. In moving from misery to meditation, to mystery, to ministry, these persons are, in fact, moving from compassion to contemplation to communion to creative commitment.
Afterward, they have no trouble telling me how they came to do what they are presently doing; but as they are moving through misery to meditation, however, they usually have no idea of what is happening to them, or of where their life is leading them. They are hurting and scared to death. As the cycle completes itself by moving from mystery to ministry, however, it is as though their pain reveals its purpose. All along it is meant to teach them
• How to be true to themselves,
• How deep their spiritual resources go,
• How to be true to a Power beyond themselves,
• And how to serve others creatively with compassion.
What went down in pain, then, comes up in praise; what went inward in suffering comes outward in service.
(From ‘The Art of Passing-over’ by Frances Dorff)

The Lord our Dwelling Place

2010-11-15T13:43:00.001-08:00

Ps.90:1 "Lord you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations."

The comfort or discomfort of our outward lives depends largely upon the dwelling place of our bodies; and the comfort or discomfort of our inward life depends similarly upon the dwelling place of our souls. Our dwelling place is the place where we live, and not the place we merely visit. Our souls need a comfortable dwelling place even more than our bodies...and where the soul is full of peace and joy, outward surroundings are of comparatively little account.

The Lord declares that He has been our dwelling place in all generations, but the question is, Are we living in our dwelling place - or are we wandering, hungry, thirsty and faint? (Ps 107) The Lord urges his invitation upon us. "Abide in me, and I in you" and he goes on to tell us what are the blessed results of this abiding. The truth is, our souls were made for God. He is our natural home, and we can never be at rest anywhere else. "My soul longs, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."

How shall we describe this divine dwelling place? David describes it when he says: "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; in him will I trust; he is my shield, my high tower, my refuge, my Saviour." This means that when we live in our dwelling place we shall be perfectly safe and secure from every assault of every enemy. I do not mean no trials will come...but they cannot penetrate into the sanctury of the soul, and we may dwell in perfect peace even in the midst of life's fiercest storms.

The fortress we are called to is soft, tender, and full of comfort; "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge." (Ps.91:4) Like a mother hen with her chicks, we are enfolded, protected and comforted. Here there is no fear. Say what the psalmist says "I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."

From 'The God of all comfort' by Hannah Whithall Smith

God's astoundingly simple plan

2010-11-14T12:34:00.000-08:00

I keep pondering on why the Father puts us 'in Christ'. The N.T. is full of this truth - and yet we seem to miss it's implications and it's power.
1. Being in Christ means we are 'hidden' in him - he clothes us and our Holy God sees only the perfect life and sacrifice of Jesus - so we are acceptable - we don't have to work for our own righteousness.
2. Being in Christ means we are loved equally with Christ! This seems astounding to us, because we see our 'miserable little selves' as seperate and 'unworthy'. But he makes us worthy by placing us 'in Christ'. What a simple solution!
3. Being in Christ means we are close to the Father's heart. We are near and dear - beloved and cherished, as we would feel about the sweetest little child or grandchild who we can't get enough of! Are we basking in this love?
4. Being in Christ means we share in his inheritance - the riches of his grace, the riches of his glory. Have we begun to explore these yet?
5. Being in Christ means the source of our life is in Him, not in the world around us or people in our lives. The loves and losses can be held lightly. We are his, and he is ours. Always.
Father has thought of everything. Can we trust in this marvel?

The fruit of humility

2010-11-03T12:08:00.000-07:00

"Clothe yourself with humility toward one another..." 1 Peter 5:5.
I wonder if we realise that Jesus was perpetually 'clothed with humility'? Do we not see him as that amazing person who could raise the dead and heal the sick and perform miracles; who had people falling at his feet with wonder? Yet if we looked at his life from the perspective of heaven, as the angels do... we would marvel at his humility - at his simple trust in his Father - at the containment of his unlimited powers - at the covering over of his glory - at his becoming a meek and humble 'child'...

Have we a right view of humility? It is not a cowering servitude, or a denial of our giftedness or uniqueness. It is a willing surrender of our 'glory' to serve the good of another, while at the same time an acknowledgement that we are 'nothing' without him - his life, his grace, his love flowing through us.

Humility serves our heart need to be at rest, to be secure in one who is greater than ourselves, to be safe from feeling we have to 'run the world' or carry the burdens of life alone. This is why God 'resists the proud' but runs to the aid of the humble of heart. Brennan Manning says "He not only cannot resist them, he cannot refuse them anything." (The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus)

I have been endeavouring to serve some people who I want to show Father's love to through mowing and clearing up for some days. It has brought me joy...despite aching muscles... and now I find I need to go further and ask for forgiveness for ways I have offended them in the past. Humility will lead us to stripping off any self-justification or feelings of superiority. But I am confident this will align me with Jesus and bring the Father joy more than ever.

Honest seeking

2010-10-21T11:16:00.000-07:00

A young couple in their 30s we have been sharing with, have struggled to make a big change in their lives. He has finally decided to quit his difficult job and move back to their home town and see if he can find work that satisfies his heart and his skills. This is testing their trust in God severely.

When they announced on Sunday that they were leaving shortly, we all felt how much we will miss them, but realised it was the right move. My husband talked with him afterwards and affirmed him and gave him a big long hug. (He is 6'6" and my husband is 6'3"!!)
And the young man emailed David later and said "Thank you for your encouragement and the hug. I realise I am seriously lacking in father-love affirmation and touch." What honesty - from a man who usually is not very verbal. How do we know, when we hug someone, if they have a great need for this sort of affirmation? My response to David when he told me was, 'Hug him some more before they leave!!'

His wife told us something lovely she had become aware of. Their little todler daughter was always falling and bumping something - and each time she would put her arms up to mummy and want to be picked up. This mother realised that she did not automatically do that with her Abba. She admitted that when things got painful in life she pouted and cried and complained... but did not reach up for his comforting arms. Wow... what a lesson to us all. She had us in tears with her.

How honest are we with others about our 'learning to love' discoveries?

Is that enough?

2010-10-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

Jesus was talking to his disciples just before his arrest and he said, "No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.
Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."

In one of Jack Frost's DVDs (Experiencing the Father's embrace) he comments on this statement of Philip, "that will be enough." Jack says, 'Wasn't it enough for him to see Jesus raise the dead, and heal the lepers...?'
But I like Philips request. "Show us the Father..." How often do we ask this of Jesus? For Jesus came for that very reason, to make a way back home to the Father, and to reveal him to us. There is a real sense in which every time we look at Jesus we 'see the Father' as they are one... but there is another dimension, when the Father himself, as a tender daddy, is revealed to our inner heart, where we need his comfort, his tender words, his assurances. This is a spiritual/emotional revelation -more than an 'understanding' of the mind.

But I am also intrigued with Philips statement 'that will be enough for us.' What is 'enough' for us? Do we settle for so little and say 'that is enough?' I regularly listen to believers talk and pray who seem to have settled for just 'getting along' -
for the occasional answer to prayer, for a life of struggle, but not victory, for a dreariness, not delight, for none of the miracles, but mostly just grace to get through. We don't seem to ask for much, we settle for a '1st gear' Christianity, and seem to ignore much of the Scriptural promises of his comfort and his enabling. Why? Have we been disappointed, and no longer trust? Are we in fact 'unbelieving believers'? Or have we been taught to settle for this low level faith? I remember a long time ago hearing from my father that he had arthritis in his hand and could not write me a letter so he dictated it to his secretary. I replied - did he ask for prayer from others about this hand? He replied to me, "God has more important things to deal with than my hand." Huh? If he knows the number of hairs on our head, and the fall of every sparrow....??? Go figure!

What is 'enough' for you? How about asking for a hunger and thirst for more? More revelation, more encountering, more enabling through the Spirit.

His glorious soul-satisfying "I am..."

2010-10-10T12:46:00.000-07:00

I am exploring the phrase "the God of all comfort" and reading Hannah Whitall Smith's book of the same name. I am aware that in my deep heart I do not yet know his comfort in some places.

She begins by talking about his name "I am". Let me quote:
"Every attribute of God, every revelation of his character, every proof of his undying love, every declaration of his watchful care, every assertion of his purposes of tender mercy, every manifestation of his loving kindness - all are the filling out of this unfinished "I am."

God tells us through all the pages of his book what he is. "I am," he says, "all that my people need": "I am their strength"; "I am their wisdom"; "I am their righteousness"; "I am their peace"; "I am their salvation"; "I am their life"; "I am their all in all."

This apparently unfinished name, therefore, is the most comforting name the heart of man could devise, because it allows us to add to it, without any limitation, whatever we feel the need of, and even "exceedingly abundantly" beyond all that we can ask or think.

But if our hears are full of our own wretched "I ams" we will have no ears to hear his glorious, soul-satisfying "I am." We say, "Alas, I am such a poor weak creature," or "I am so foolish," or "I am so good-for-nothing," or "I am so helpless"; and we give these pitiful "I ams" of ours as the reason for the wretchedness and discomfort of our spiritual lives, and even feel that we are very much to be pitied that things are so hard for us. While all the time we entirely ignore the blank cheque of God's magnificent "I am," which authorises us to draw upon Him for an abundant supply for every need.

If you are an uncomfortable Christian,(not comforted) then the only thing to give you a thoroughly comfortable spiritual life is to know God. The psalmist says that they that know God's name will put their trust in him, and it is, I am convinced, impossible for anyone really to know him (experience him) and not to trust him. A trustworthy person commands trust; not in the sense of ordering people to trust him, but by irresistibly winning their trust by his trustworthiness."

Further reflection has led me to believe that there are a number of reasons we do not access his comfort.
a. We have deep wounds of not being comforted as a child and have come to believe that no-one is there for us when we are in distress, so we become stoic. ("Go to your room, and when you have stopped crying you can come out!")
b. We have come to believe it is 'part of who we are' to complain, or express self-pity or cynicism... we would not know ourselves if we did not have this pessimistic streak!
c. We have the habit of seeking comfort in people feeling sorry for us, in the substitutes of TV, food, spending money etc... and do not consider we dishonour our "God of all comfort" and rob ourselves of his grace.
d. We are suspicious of optimistic 'sunny' people and think they are being 'unreal' because life is full of trials and hardships.

More of this coming....

Are you comfortable with love?

2010-09-29T10:24:00.000-07:00

This question has rolled around my inner being for a week or so. Heard it on Jack Frosts DVD series "Encountering the Father's Embrace." (www.shilohplace.org - cannot recommend this enough!)

Mmmm... I think my answer is Yes and No. No... to a mushy, clingy, needy expression of love. But yes to what I have experienced of God's healing, renewing love. No to words of 'I love you' that do not bear fruit in the coal-face of daily life. But yes to that joyful bubble of "Thank you Lord!" that surfaces as I read the Word and see the magnificence of his ways and his love.

But am I comfortable with receiving love from others? It depends - or it used to depend on who they were I guess. But I must say I have been hugged and held (sometimes for 4-5 minutes)and gazed at with love by more people in the last 2-3 months than for years before that! And many of them were strangers, or only just met friends, and they were both men and women. Such is the way of those exploring the love of Father's heart together. We have become comfortable with sharing his love together, believing our arms and eyes and voices can convey something of his divine, completely accepting and fully affirming love.

Am I comfortable with giving this warmth and love? Before I met Father's healing love a couple of months ago, I would say barely. Only when ministering to a hurting person - or greeting a good friend. But I am learning - and believing - that as I embrace others they too may just encounter HIS divine love that now has more place in me. And I found that a woman who previously annoyed me a lot by her attitude to life (negative, fussy) and who I avoided because of her long tales of woe, I just go and hug her now. No feelings of discomfort within at all. Astounding! That has to be the unconditional love of Father - who wants to comfort her agitated soul through me. It no longer feels awkward like it used to. Interesting!!?

The power of love

2010-09-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

I used to find it hard to put together the words 'power' and 'love'. My perceptions were that power was force, and love was tenderness (even mushiness!). How wrong I was!

I saw the power of love a few weeks ago. At a weekend seminar on the Father's love a man in his 70s, comfortably retired, was exploring who God was. And in a time of prayer he was held by a motherly woman (20 years younger!)and he wept as Father's love filled his heart. Within two days of that encounter he has resigned everything associated with being the head of the local masonic lodge! If that is not 'the power of love' I don't know what is!

Who would not want such encounters! Who would not want to be so changed without days of argument..! His heart was washed and filled by Father's divine love. And nothing is the same any more.

I was talking to a younger woman yesterday who is hurting so bad because her mother will not spend time with her, but does with her sister. She aches to be loved by her mother in a way that takes away her pain of rejection. But she is looking in the wrong direction. The nurturing love of Father (who has mother love too - for that is where it all comes from) can fill that void and so complete her that she can forgive and not need to ache for this from her mother. We were created to be filled with his love. Anything else is a bonus. I am praying I can help her see that and reach out for this powerful love.
He comes as we abandon our search for substitutes - and our holding onto the debts of others. "You owe me nothing!" is a most liberating posture. Looking at our Father and saying "You have all I need" is the only way our aching hearts will be filled.

Divine Dominoes

2010-09-20T14:02:00.000-07:00

I am agog at seeing 'divine dominoes' falling in a friend's life. It is a real 'WOW God' time! She has loved and served God passionately for years. In her early adulthood she researched and wrote a book for a mission agency about transformed lives. She and her husband have also written books together.

But the last 20 years or so have been such hard slog - lots of physical pain, as well as deep spiritual and emotional pain overwhelming her life. She is gifted and skilled and deeply earnest. Why had God not 'come through' and brought her out into 'a spacious place' as he promises? We had prayed with her often in her times of distress and pain, and nothing seemed to change. (So had many others)

But then... in June this year she was nudged by the Spirit to look out a tape made 20 or more years ago on the Father's Heart. About a week later I emailed her that David and I were going to the 6 day Fatherheart school 5 hrs away by car. Did she want to come with us? Something went ping! in her, and she thought... 'Is this God?'...and she came with us and was profoundly changed by healing encounters with her Abba, Daddy.

Then on the last day she and I were in conversation with a woman with an international ministry who mentioned she was trying to write a book but couldn't - it was not her... she needed a writer. I said my friend was a recognised writer... and more dominoes began to fall. They began talking - and since then she has been back to talk and record interviews and the whole thing is underway.

But get this! Just six weeks later there was a gathering of people there from around the world with stories that were needed for the book... so my friend was able to be there and interview 20-30 people whose stories will be put in the book... WOW! And at their times of prayer and being with the Father, more healing came, and words about the future. There is now the 'spacious place' - the fulfilment of years of seeking and groaning before a loving God. And there is also a sense of being 'at home' with kindred spirits in ministry that has eluded my friend for some time. WOW! We are marvelling at what has happened - so fast! So right. So amazing. What a privelege to be a little part of this story.

"When the time had fully come..." Mmmm. This is an interesting part of God's ways. He has a time and a way that will bring him full credit (glory) by causing things to be that were not! Isn't that better than any manouvering or organising we can do? But it takes a steadfast holding onto a faithful Father who is full of goodness.

Filling the holes

2010-09-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

Been realising there are emotional/spiritual 'holes' in me. Whenever I was sick as a child, I was not comforted or fussed over much. I had to be stoic and accept that the household just went on without me. This has made it hard for me to receive the comfort of the Father (and his nurturing 'mother' qualities) in times of pain or distress.

Last night I was sick with a bad chest and cough. My ribs felt bruised from the violent coughing. David wanted to take me to the emergency doctor at 10pm at night. I said wait till morning. I dosed up with everything I could lay my hands on, and David anointed me with oil and I tucked up in the bed in the spare room so David could have a good sleep. I lay there just saying over and over, "Father, I am yours - you are loving me and healing me now." I slept soundly and woke without the cough or the bad throat, and feel almost normal again. Wow!

But I realise there are these holes - gaps in what I can receive and realise. More Father. More of your nurture, comfort and healing of my heart, my emotional make-up, not just my body.

Spiritual Agoraphobia

2010-09-13T13:43:00.000-07:00

I heard this great phrase from James Jordan on his teaching CD 'The False Covering of Fig Leaves' (availalble on www.fatherheart.net)

Spiritual agoraphobia. The fear of big open spaces...in spiritual terms - the fear of not having things in a small, comfortable, manageable space. He was talking about how we can confine our knowledge of God (and knowing him experientially) to what we can understand within our framework of what we have discovered so far. But of course he is infinite - and often the scriptures use the phrase 'beyond knowing'. He can do 'far more than we can imagine...' Hallelujah for that!

All around the world the Lord is doing things beyond our imagination (check out Iris Ministries for one - with Roland and Heidi Baker www.irisministries.org) and showing his love and his power in unprecedented ways. Why not in our lives? Why not throw open the windows and doors of our minds and hearts and say 'More - Father, more - Lord Jesus, more - Holy Spirit'?

When the Scriptures talk of 'mysteries' it means things that are 'veiled' or hidden. Bill Johnson astutely says they are hidden FOR us to find (because we seek) not from us. There are many things we have not yet had revealed to us from the Word. It is not just logical truth to be understood - it points to spiritual realities that only our heart and spirit can taste and grasp. And we do not know when or how he will do it. He is sovereign. But an open and seeking and child-like heart will always be READY to see and taste and experience more, and perhaps understand as well some of the 'mysteries' of the Kingdom. Oh for such seeking hearts.

It is really about POSITION. What posture do we take - what way do we face? Our words frequently reveal our posture because the mouth cannot help but speak what the heart is full of! Are we keeping our eyes on heavenly things - on him who is our Wisdom, our Life, our very Source? Or are the trials and testings of earth our focus? I have to keep checking my posture and my position. It slips... looking down - looking at others - looking at myself and my failings...

"Father - lift my head to fix my eyes on your sufficiency at all times. To whom else shall we go... And may my vision have vast horizons and endless possibilities in you."

Where IS the Father?

2010-09-07T15:23:00.000-07:00

I was just listening to Barry Adams on www.fatherheart.tv/teaching-videos (inspirational stuff!) and he said he always thought the Father was 'way up there somewhere' because of the Lord's prayer, "Our Father, who is in Heaven." And something went ping in my head. If we pray this prayer often, will we have a false view of where the Father is? Barry did.

So did Jesus MEAN us to keep praying it? After all he later said that the Spirit would come and consequently he, Jesus, would live in them and so too would the Father. John 14:23 Mmm... It is clear that we cannot confine the Father to either Heaven or 'our hearts' - as he is above and beyond all things. But somehow we can miss this reality, of the Father's love actually invading our hearts and the deepest places of our being because we have this picture of him being 'up there in Heaven'.

There is always a danger of taking one scripture and making it exclude the truth of others. He is not JUST 'in heaven' - he also comes to us now, in our hearts, here on earth. Psalm 139 describes it well. "Where can I flee from your presence?" Actually - no-where... but we do have the capacity to shut him out of our hearts and our deepest memories and subconscious mind. He awaits our invitation to come in and heal and reveal and comfort and cleanse and make new. What a privilege - to invite in this guest and ask him to take over! Why do we resist such perfect love...?

Being unravelled...

2010-09-04T20:01:00.000-07:00

Over the last few days I kept crying. I was being unravelled. An area of pain that I am bringing to the Father to heal was exposed. I just kept saying, "Father, I forgive... Please come and fill that empty space with your comfort and love."

I wondered if I should go to church - I might become unravelled again and 'make a scene'. But I went, and I didn't. But someone did unravel. It was our worship leader, as she led the final two songs. The Lord had touched a place of deep pain in her during the preaching. David, my husband, was preaching from Galatians 3 and 4 about becoming sons and heirs - and he said that the Father, our Abba, not only loved us deeply, but also had a deep affection for us. He was 'very fond of us'. This touched our worship leader - as she knew God loved her - but to know in her heart that he LIKED her was too much. She had experienced much disapproval in her growing years.

She was prayed for - and another woman took over leading. Father's love was at work... may there be much more unravelling. It is his way of bring light, truth, healing, love and comfort into our hearts. This is the 'power of his love'. Let him do some unravelling for you - it is so, so healing.

Our Joyful God

2010-08-30T11:26:00.000-07:00

More from John Ortberg. 'The Life You've Always Wanted.'

G.K. Chesterton's writings are filled with the centrality of joy in the character of God and his plans for mankind. Jesus came as a Joy-bringer. The joy we see in the happiest child is but a fraction of the joy that resides in the heart of God. Chesterton speaks of this in a memorable passage:

Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that he has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we are.

We will not understand God until we understand this about him: "God is the happiest being in the universe." ...and God's intent was that his creation would mirror his joy... Joy is strength. It's absence will create weakness.

True joy, as it turns out, comes only to those who have devoted their lives to something greater than personal happiness. If we don't rejoice today, we will not rejoice at all.

He watches me as I sleep

2010-08-23T14:59:00.000-07:00

I was reading John Ortberg's great book "The Life you have Always Wanted" and this passage touched me deeply.

"Sometime ago I woke up in the middle of the night... I looked at my wife, Nancy, sleeping beside me and suddenly I was overwhelmed by the most intense sense of love. It was as if I saw our entire married life in one kaleidoscopic viewing. One scene after another replayed in my mind... For the longest time I just watched my wife in wonder as she slept. It was one of the most tender moments I have ever known.

Then something happened that I did not expect. Propped up on one elbow and watching Nancy sleep, I thought, While I lie in bed sleeping, God is watching me. As the Psalmist expressed it, "He who keeps you will not slumber nor sleep." And the thought came to me that God was saying something like this:

"I love you like that. While you lie sleeping, no one can see you, but I watch you. My heart is full of love for you. What your heart is feeling right now as you watch your wife, what a parent feels watching a child, is a little picture for you, a gift, so you can know - every night when you go to sleep - that this is my heart for you. I want you to reflect on this at night before you close your eyes. I'm watching you, and I'm full of love."

It was an overwhelming moment. I had the sense that God himself was somehow speaking to me. These were not just thoughts about God, but thoughts from God. I felt that God want to speak of his love to me - personally."

His Restful, Joyful Yoke

2010-08-16T13:01:00.000-07:00

We all know the inviting passage in Matthew 11:28-30 where Jesus calls us to come and find rest..."For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." It evokes a longing in us to find this way of living. I always saw his words as meaning we must be yoked to him... walking as he does, resting when he does.

But recently I have seen this differently. Look at the verses above it. Jesus is exulting in the Father (imagine a real loud 'Yahoo!') and praising him for revealing spiritual realities to child-like hearts and not learned adult minds. Then he describes how he relates to his Abba - his Daddy, God and says "No-one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." And out of this he says "Come to me... live like me... and you will live restfully."

I thought, 'What is the yoke Jesus has that he offers to us in order to impart rest?'
Clearly it is Jesus relationship to his Father! He is yoked to his Abba! He and the Father walk together, work together, delight together. And he is saying, 'If you too are yoked (held together so you must do it all in union) with my Abba, your life will be restful, gentle, humble, full of delights, insightful and powerful without straining - just like mine is!' WHEN HE REVEALS ABBA TO US - THEN WE CAN LIVE THIS LIFE THAT HE DID. What a wonder! What a joy! What simplicity!

So let's ask, and keep on asking - "Jesus, reveal our Abba, our Daddy to us. Help us to be those 'little children' you talk about, with the heart of a trusting son or daughter with our all-loving, all-powerful Dad. We want this restful, gentle, joyfilled life that you offer, every day."

The Butterfly and the Blood

2010-08-10T14:10:00.000-07:00

I was pondering on the simplicity of a child and remembered a visit to a wonderful flower display with our young granddaughter. She was probably 3 or 4. It was a lovely old wooden church in Waikanae, NZ, and there were exquisitly beautiful flower displays set up around the main chapel. The perfume was heady! Plus there was a string trio playing lovely baroque music - cello, viola and violin - up the front by the altar.

Ellie admired the flowers - she loves them - and when we sat down near the back of the church to soak in the beauty of the music and the flowers and the aromas... she floated gently down the aisle dancing... up, down, around...graceful and completely free (her mother was a dancer)like a butterfly, just flitting here and there. She got to the steps and knelt and bowed and then got up and danced back slowly and gracefully up the aisle to us. There were many wet eyes upon her by now. And she came to us and bent forward and offered us something. We took it - and I asked her, "Ellie, what are you giving us?" She bent towards us solemly and said "The blood of Jesus"... then turned and fluttered her way down the aisle again, leaving us unravelled on our seats!

"A little child shall lead them..." and she did. Into pure worship! What an act of worship her dancing was. What power in her imitating a priest offering the cup. Why do we need to grow up? This innocence, this simplicity is all our Abba asks! It is what he delights in.

He writes on our hearts

2010-08-08T15:12:00.001-07:00

We often talk about 'inviting Jesus into our hearts" - but did you know that when he is there he begins to write on the walls!!
We can study and listen and learn all about the Scriptures, and the 'how to's' of our life with God for years and years... and it will not change us, unless he writes it on our hearts.
For we will always externalise (especially under pressure) what our hearts are full of - what is written on them. Paul used the phrase "you are a letter written on our hearts." We carry this inner letter where people and the Lord have written on. What is written there will produce our attitudes, our perceptions and our responses to life and to the Lord.

Jesus said a number of times that we must be like little children. This is because little children have hearts wide open to be written upon. All that is written upon their open hearts in the early years shapes their perception and attitudes to life.
What is he writing on your heart today? Does your heart know with absolute certainty you are deeply loved, you are delighted in by your 'Daddy', that nothing can separate you from his love, that whatever happens he wants good for you.
I am finding this truth so liberating. He can erase the lies and distortions with his cleansing blood, and write 'truth in the inward parts'.

Being analytical and a 'let's not panic' kind of person - I used to think all this heart stuff was mushy and sentimental. But it is not! It is true and noble and strong and tender and so, so satisfying and inspiring and mind-blowing...and strengthening and tender and insightful and overflowing and beautiful and like a scrumptious meal or a wonderful soak in a hot pool...and exciting, like you are setting off on a wonderful adventure and can't wait... WE WERE MADE FOR THIS!!
Anything less is BOR-ING or exhausting! Have you discovered that?

His Lavish Love

2010-08-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

1 John 3:1-2
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (NIV)
Don't you love that word "lavished"! He has lavished his love on us by making us his children. How is love lavished on a child? With lots of hugs and smiles and kisses, words and attention. They feel secure, special, bonded, close, satisfied.

Is this how we feel as Father's child? Or is he (to us) an emotionally absent Father? Many are emotionally detached from their Abba. And it is because of all the closed doors in their heart - not a lack of love on his part. It does not make sense that we should be created with mind, will, imagination and emotions and Father does not touch our emotions.

We have been led to believe that we must not trust emotions in our life of faith. There is some truth in this. Our emotions fluctuate, and are not a true measurement of our faith. But this does not mean that we must not feel his love, or his joy over us, or our own responses of love and joy and peace. His love is tangible; I have known it like refreshing water, like the effect of sitting in a hot pool on a cold day (ahhhhhhhh!) like a soft billowy feathered eiderdown, as a deep sense of inner restfulness, as a deep delight that bubbles up with giggles or yahoos!

And he says to us "You are my beloved child, in whom I delight." In John 17:26 Jesus is praying that "the love you (Father) have for me may be in them." This delighted, tender love is the same love Jesus experienced. You see Father's love does not have variances or degrees. It is not that one day he loves us a lot, and another, not much. His love is constant, unvarying. This is what is meant by 'eternal' - not fluctuating or varying or dying away.

1 Jn 4:18 "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out/casts out fear." Have you known this perfect (complete) love that drives out fear? I experienced that profoundly recently as a time of desolation was brought into the light and cleaned out and his perfect love drove out the fear of abandonment. I had been left at the hospital to have my tonsils out at about 3 years (as they did in those days) and it devastated me. But it was locked away. This 'orphan voice' was heard when I was alone, but I never knew it was such a deep pain until the Father brought it out recently and healed it.

Invite this perfect, unchanging, lavish love of Father to come and open the doors of your heart. He wants to be emotionally present for you, every day, every hour, so he is your delight, and you know you are his.

Finding Father's heart

2010-07-31T18:18:00.001-07:00

So you recognise you have an orphan heart - and know you need Father's love? What now?
1. Own the walls that have been built up to protect your heart. All of us have been hurt at some time by parents or authority figures. So we build walls to protect our vulnerable hearts. We adopt a persona - the joker - the tough one - the pleaser - the bookworm - the knowledgeable one - constantly busy - task orientated - mad about sport... Or we become unco-operative, questioning everything, resisting authority. We all have walls we hide behind. They are a natural defense mechanism. The trouble is they also shut our hearts off from the love of our Perfect Father - our Abba. We need to own this, admit it to him and ourselves.
2. Dismantle them with forgiveness and asking forgiveness. Once owned, we can then dismantle them by firstly forgiving those who wounded us - often unintentionally. They were themselves wounded and broken people. They could not give us the perfect, unconditional love we were created to function with. We need to forgive them - release them from debt - tear up the IOUs. But then we need also to recognise that we also sinned, against them, by shutting off our hearts. It helps pull down the walls if we write a letter to our parents, admitting the ways we shut off our hearts and withheld love and honour and asking their forgiveness. Perhaps we cannot send it - they have passed on - so reading it aloud will help us. But if they are still alive maybe one day it will be right to humble ourselves before them and speak about this. We can be assured the grace of our Father will help us do this, and it will soften the hearts of our parents towards us also.
3. Keep asking Father to wash and heal your heart. Only the love of Father God can wash and heal our deep wounds of rejection or offense that caused our closed hearts. Keep inviting him to do this wonderful work.
4. Become 'as a little child' - with humility, simplicity, and need. Jesus said a number of times that we are to become 'as little children'. You see the Father's love must come to our 'little child' heart. Our emotions never mature or grow up. The way we handle them does, but feelings feel the same as a child, adult or senior.
So our little child heart needs to be open to our Heavenly Daddy, our Abba, our Papa... for it is not the accomplished adult who sits on Daddy's knee, but the little child, who knows they need love and affection, comforting and encouraging. When we come empty-handed, trusting and dependant, THEN he can 'Father' us and comfort us and pour in his tender love.
It is astounding when this happens. We feel safe and secure, we feel very special to him, we know we are precious and a joy to him. Anything we experience on earth like this with parents, grandparents or others is just a 'taste' of what we can experience with the perfect love of our perfect Daddy. This is what he created us for. Make that journey towards his completely satisfying love. Get others to help you. It can happen in a brief time as we set our heart to pull down the walls. Do it today.

More Signs of an Orphan

2010-07-29T13:26:00.000-07:00

Orphans live with comparisons. Their image of themselves is low so they see others as more blessed, more loved - getting all the breaks.
A son/daughter revels in being affirmed and valued and precious to their Father. So they don't need to compare. They are content, and know their loving Daddy will not withhold any good thing from them. They know they are loved even when they fail.

Orpans seek comfort in counterfeit affections, addictions, cmpulsions, escapism, busyness, accomplishments and hyper-religious activity...believing the busier they are the happier they are.
Sons/daughters find true comfort in resting the Father's presence and love. They can be alone, and be quiet easily. Nothing else compares to this quiet resting in his love.

Orphans often relate to peers through competition, rivalry or jealousy. They cannot genuinely rejoice of the success or advancement of another because they are not secure in themselves.
Sons/daughters value others and sincerely rejoice in their successes. They honour them, seeking unity and humility.

Orphans often resort to accusation and exposure of others faults while denying or trying to hide their own. They don't feel good about themselves, so attempt to make others look worse and so build themselves up. They evidence criticalness, control, possessiveness or lack of respect and honour.
Sons/daughters seek in love to 'cover' others with faults and sins. This is not hiding, but protecting them from humiliation and destructive exposure as this is resolved because they love the person and want them restored.

Orphans struggle with authority figures, usually because they have been wounded by them. They feel vulnerable and are suspicious and distrustful of any authority but their own. They feel that supporting the goals of another is allowing themselves to be used.
Daughters/sons feel relaxed and confident and open and teachable towards authority figures. They are not a threat. The past hurts have been healed by their Abba, and they are secure in him as their ultimate authority.

Orphans have difficulty receiving correction. They take it as a personal offense or a rejection. They justify themselves, focus on the faults of others, blame others, get angry and accuse and shut their spirits off to those trying to help them.
Sons/daughters are able to say "I am sorry, I was wrong" easily. They want to be changed, and receive correction without fear, seeing it as valuable in their maturing process. They are sad they have "offended love" and not acted lovingly.

Orphans have difficulty expressing love to those they disapprove of. They avoid them. Unconditional love is foreign to them.
For daughters/sons who are drawing on Abba's love daily, they want to give it way to all they meet. They are open, transparent and affectionate, seeking how they can meet the needs of others. They feel compassion or sadness for others, not disapproval.

Orphans live life as if they don't have a home. They feel as if they are away from safe harbour and don't know how to get back. Nothing satisfies, nothing feels permanent, nowhere feels like home.
Sons/daughters are at rest and at peace in the safe harbour of their Father's love. They feel at home with Daddy. Whatever the storms of life, they have a safe place in his love.

(Highly recommend 'Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sons' by Jack Frost
Also his first book 'Experiencing Father's Embrace'
They are revolutionary!)

Our condescending Father

2010-07-28T03:59:00.000-07:00

This may sound weird, but I am on my knees, late at night, writing this with the laptop on the bed in our spare room, where I sometimes sleep if working late or needing space. It seems appropriate.
I feel a sense of wonder. So much seems to be opening up in my understanding and my heart is regularly melting within.
I have been pondering on our view of Jesus... as 'anointed and empowered by the Spirit' to do the Father's will. We look at this and say "we must be like this." And it's true... but my experience has been that it is sporadic - times knowing he is flowing in us or inspiring or giving insight or prayer...and other times we feel empty and lost and so 'unspiritual'. But the key to Jesus' life was first of all that who he was and how he operated all came from Father - then the Spirit came to empower his ministry. He was rooted and established in his life with his Father - with Abba, Daddy. He didn't say, "I only say what the Spirit tells me, or do what the Spirit does..." It was Father he emulated, it was Abba he spoke from. How have we missed this?

I find two things happening to me, now I have met my Papa, my Daddy. When I was up town shopping, everyone I looked at my heart said "Father loves you so very much - you are so precious to him." Everyone! It just leapt up from within.
Then I find I am happy to be simple, dependent, uncluttered - and constantly asking my Daddy for his interaction and thoughts and direction on my daily tasks. It is as if I am a little child holding his hand. Previously I was easily driven with tasks, deadlines, oughts... with anxiety and stress gnawing at me off and on that I had to speak truth to to steady myself. That seems so foreign to this life with my Papa. It is a wonder... and a delight... and "more than I could imagine."

We marvel at the wonder of the cross, at the giving and suffering for us. But is this not too a thing of wonder, that Almighty Father, Lord of the Universe, should condescend to dwell in us, and reveal his heart, and pour out his tenderest love upon us. Such is his good pleasure!!!

What's an 'orphan heart?'

2010-07-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

An orphan heart is one which has not met it's true Father and felt his love. In the story of the prodigal son, both sons evidenced orphan hearts. Hearts that had not known the true nature of their Father's heart and felt 'beloved' and secure.
The younger son took all he could and went off and wasted it. Grasping, rebelling, distancing himself, using 'partying' to fill the void. It was only in deep need that he saw - had a flash of insight - that he was better off back home with his Dad.
The elder son evidenced that he felt he had 'slaved' for his Father, and was unaware that everything was his and he was in full partnership with his Father.

All these are signs of the orphan heart.
Orphans see God as a Master to appease. Must pray more, serve more... always more to do to please him - always feeling inadequate.
A son/daughter sees God as a loving Father who accepts them unconditionally. They know they don't have to 'earn' anything.
Orphans are independent and self-reliant. They feel they cannot trust anyone so have to make it happen themselves.
Sons/daughters are interdependent, knowing they need Father's love and wisdom, and the love and gifts of the community of faith.
Orpans live by the love of law. They want rules, principles, regulations, and obedience.
Sons/daughters live by "the law of love." They see the greatest truth is living to receive Father's love and give it away to the next person they meet. They know that "love is the fulfillment of the law" (Rom.13:10b)
Orphans are insecure and cover it up with trying to do all the right things. They rarely experience inner peace and rest.
Sons/daughters are resting in the Father's embrace daily and know their security in God does not depend on their behaviour, but on the grace of God and the work of Jesus.
Orphans seek approval and praise, but can never feel secure and satisfied.
Sons/daughters know they are totally accepted in God's love. They already have acceptance in Christ.
(Taken from "Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship" Jack Frost.
More coming...

Our deferring Trinity

2010-07-27T13:18:00.000-07:00

So many new awarenesses... feel like I need a fortnight off to explore them all!

Been looking at how Jesus related to his Father. He continually said "I only say what the Father says... I only do what the Father is doing." Clearly his eyes were continually on his Father, much as a little boy would watch and imitate his dad. This is a picture of a dependent child - not a masterful adult. Not my will, not my words, not my actions, not my power...but His. If Jesus needed his Daddy (Abba) then how much more do we?

And then there is the deference. Jesus points us to Father - The Spirit points us to Jesus - and the Father says "Look at my Son, I love him so much. Listen to him." Jesus said, "No-one comes to me except the Father draws him." Then he says, "No-one comes to the Father except by me." The Father draws us to Jesus, who in turn is the Way to the Father, and the Spirit speaks into our hearts enabling us to cry "Abba, Father" and to exalt Jesus as Lord. WOW! What a picture of the nature of love. Deferring, exalting another, adding to and assisting one another.

We can't do this of ourselves. Our orphan, unloved hearts are not capable. But once the perfect love of our perfect Father washes and invades our hearts we can! Increasingly and more naturally. What a way to live! Secure in the love of Abba, Jesus and the Spirit and free to defer to others without losing anything. "This is life, that they may know me and the one who sent me."

Let your lion lie down with your lamb

2010-07-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

This is from Henri J. M. Nouwen 'The Inner Voice of Love'
There is within you a lion and a lamb. Spiritual maturity is the ability to let lamb and lion lie down together. Your lion is your adult, agressive self. It is your initiative-taking and decision-making self. But there is also your fearful, vulnerable lamb, the part of you that needs affection, support, affirmation and nurturing.
When you heed only your lion you will find yourself overextended and exhausted. When you take notice only of your lamb, you will easily become a victim of your need for other people's attention. The art of spiritual living is to fully claim your lion and your lamb. Then you can act assertively without denying your own needs. And you can ask for affection and care without betraying your talent to offer leadership.
Developing your identity as a child of God in no way means giving up your responsibilities. Likewise, claiming your adult self in no way means that you cannot become increasingly a child of God. In fact, the opposite is true. The more you can feel safe as a child of God, the freer you will be to claim your mission in the world as a responsible human being. And the more you claim that you have a unique task to fulfil for God, the more open you will be to letting your deepest need be met.
The Kingdom of peace that Jesus came to establish begins when your lion and your lamb can freely and fearlessly lie down together.

Meeting Father's heart

2010-07-25T21:25:00.000-07:00

David and I have just spent a week at a Fatherheart school in Taupo (NZ). It was revolutionary! Hearts were healed and bathed in the Father's love - ours, our friend we went with, and heaps of others there. It is a combination of truth and love. And as the truth helps us see our own hearts, and realise what his heart is truly like - the team love us just by holding us when we weep, and breathing his love over us. I discovered my heart was shut off from my Father's love because of an experience as a child when I was left at a hospital to have my tonsils out around 3 yrs. I have experienced God's love before, but never like this - and never with the whole change of outlook - a real paradigm shift - like this.
A key understanding is that Jesus related to God as Abba, Daddy, and his stance was one of a child, dependent on his Daddy to show him what to do and give him the ability to do at all times. If we want to be like Jesus we too must become as little children to our Daddy. Matt.11:25-26. But our hearts often have walls around, due to hurtful experiences - and we release that through forgiveness and opening our hearts again. We can know, as Jesus did, that we are Father's 'beloved child, in whom I am well pleased.' And what joy flows!
You can get DVDs or CDs of this material - or go to their events. All on www.fatherheart.net

Unexpected Grace - reflections on John 4

2010-07-12T19:02:00.000-07:00

The meeting was unexpected,
even more so the speaking.
After all, she was a Samaritan, and a woman,
shunned and ashamed.
He broke convention greeting her,
(the unconventional woman, drawing water
at an unconventional hour)
meeting need with need, “Give me a drink.”
This was the first grace, the unexpected meeting.

Then there was the second, he offered her a gift.
She didn’t know she needed it,
or what it really was,
but he offered it all the same.
“Living water,” he called it,
“so you’ll never thirst again.”
This was the second grace, which only later flowed.

The third was startling, from a complete stranger.
He put his finger on her shame.
“Go call your husband..... “
and out it all came,
dragged into his healing light.
No need to hide anymore, what relief.....what grace.
(How did he know? Was he a prophet?)

The fourth grace was very strange.
A profound theology lesson on worship,
“in spirit and in truth...”
at the well, in the heat of the day,
to a gentile, an immoral woman!
Why theology and not admonishment?
Why worship and not law?
(Did he know her that well?)
‘Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.....’

Yet another grace wells up, the joy of being fully known.
“Come see a man who told me everything I ever did!”
Releasing truth, the freedom to be fully loved,
the exuberance of the light!
This fifth grace flowed over, unexpectedly,
to water the thirst of many others.

The sixth grace was abundant -
“Many believed in him because of the woman’s testimony.”
The ripened harvest was gathered in,
and the Grace-giver was well fed!
His friends, meanwhile, remained quite puzzled.
A harvest in Samaria?
But then, grace is usually unexpected,
as well as abundant.

Why pray for our neighbours?

2010-07-09T16:40:00.000-07:00

For most of us, our live are very full. Jobs, family, friends, colleagues, church responsibilities, home maintenance, hobbies, and recreation fill our days.
But where we live is part of God’s plan. Even if you did not ask the Lord for his direction when you chose to live there, God intends for you to be a doorkeeper to his presence and his power in the neighbourhood where you live. Everywhere we, his people are, is both a sacred place and a mission centre.

Secondly, we are assigned to be priests for every area of our influence. “For you are a kingdom of priests…” (1 Peter 2:9) The responsibility of a priest is to take the needs of others into the holy place before God and speak to him on their behalf. We delight in being free to come to him for ourselves, but that is only part of what ‘priesthood’ means. We need to take upon ourselves the names of people whom God has given us influence with or responsibility for, and bring them regularly to God’s throne. We are priests for our street and our workplace. Will you ask the Lord to put on you a priestly prayer garment? When you enjoy his presence, will you remember to take others with you into that holy place and present their needs before God?

Thirdly, God wants all to be saved, to come to know him and enjoy his favour. We have no idea who will receive him or who will reject him. So we cannot be selective about who we should share his love with. Everyone deserves an opportunity to know him. His Shepherd heart aches for all who are lost.
Look at Luke 15 – the lost coin, the lost sheep and the lost son. Why did Jesus tell these three stories? What are the common elements in these stories? The longing of the one who searches. The joy when they find... SELAH! As you see your work colleague or your neighbour or their house let this thought run through your mind, “God wants you to come to know him. Jesus died so you can enjoy the favour of God.” I guarantee your heart will begin to ache with his concern and you will find yourself open to the voice of the Spirit prompting you as to what you can say and do about it. This is how truth changes us inwardly.

Fourthly, in your street there are people hungry to know God. Not sure about this one? Don’t you think that in 100 people there would be two or three (or more?) who are seeking God, or curious about him? Around 33 houses have, on average, 100 people in them. What if you walked up and down your street, or your part of it, and counted out 30 or so houses? Then you said to yourself, “In this area there are some people hungry to know God – and God is longing to meet them – and I can help them meet him.” Try it – and I will guarantee that your heart will become hungry to find who they are. Then you’ll begin to wonder how you can connect them to the Father who seeks them.
Taken from my prayer website www.prayerchangeslives.org.nz - devoted to provoking and equipping prayer in churches and homes.

The seed needs the soil

2010-07-07T13:55:00.000-07:00

Dutch Sheets writes such helpful books on prayer and spiritual growth. I was reading 'Roll away your stone' and was struck by two truths I knew, but he put very clearly.
1. When we are born again, made new, we have a new spirit, but an old soul. The new spirit is pure gift. The mind, will, and emotions are BEING renewed - and need our co-operation.
2. Truth that sets us free comes in SEED form, and it needs the soil of our faith and co-operation to grow and produce that freedom.

He explains the strongholds that develop in us over the years, and gives wonderful examples of how truth applied and declared has done it's double work of breaking down the old and building up the new.

I find myself wanting the 'quick fix' - the ministry prayer or prophecy that will break off things in me that need to go... and sometimes that has happened. But more often it is cultivating the soil so the truth seeds can grow and do their cleansing and renewing work.

New truth has been planted in me recently, that has given me an expanding sense (like being pregnant!) that something really good is going to burst forth. It feels like layers are being peeled off, and I feel somewhat vulnerable and unsure...but the new growth has not yet appeared. I am restless, there is an inner ache of longing... constant prayer bubbling up... but I cannot be passive. Jesus said "The seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it (yes, doing that) and by persevering produce a crop."

Lord - enable me to persevere in the truth... keep the soil moist - sit in the sunlight of your smile, and delight in what is emerging.

He has made us for himself...

2010-07-02T16:34:00.001-07:00

Augustine said, "He has made us for him, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in him."
I was quoting this in a message last Sunday and it hit me as I said it - "He had made us for himself..." not for ourselves! He fashioned us by his hand, he breathed his life in us, he has ordered our days and our place and time in history... and through Christ he has redeemed us and brought us home... and yet - we still barely register this astounding fact - he has made us, and redeemed us, for himself!

This is why he goes to such extraordinary lengths to get us back - why he pays the ultimate price for the way to be made open. He made us for himself and HIS heart is restless until we find our rest in him!! We are so 'self' conscious when we say "how could he love me?" It is not about me - it is about him and his yearning heart. And we live with such a huge self-consciousness instead of a huge HIM-consciousness. Such is the deceptive nature of the fall, of sin, and the world it has created. The reality is that the more God-conscious we become - ie the more enamoured we are of our Abba, Daddy and our Lord and elder brother Jesus - the more we become our true selves, full of "righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit..." - and the more we are aligned with his heart.

"You made us for yourself..."
What would happen to our hearts, our minds, our focus and our fruitfulness if we soaked in this wonderful reality? I am expecting to find out soon - because I cannot get this phrase out of my head. As I turn it over in my mind, and on my lips may it descend to my heart and fill my soul, and open the floodgates of my spirit in praise and revelation.

The winds are his messengers

2010-06-29T14:06:00.000-07:00

Been challenged by a great story in Lynn Reddick's book 'The Two Minute Miracle'. He tells the story of Bobby, a rebellious young man who left home in anger and went into drugs and disappeared. His parents were in anguish, not knowing if he was dead or alive. One day his dad, driving on the edge of town, stopped to pray out his agony. He pointed his finger towards the north and yelled with all his might, "BOBBY, COME HOME!". Turning to the south, he shouted into the wind, "BOBBY, COME HOME!" Then to the east and west, the same words.

Two days later there was a knock at the door. It was Bobby! After a tearful reunion his dad asked what brought him home. "Dad, I was sitting on the front porch of an old shack on the edge of the desert in Arizona, stoned out of my mind. A wind started blowing and suddenly it grew stronger. Dad, I could have sworn that I heard your voice in the wind, BOBBY, COME HOME! And Dad, I got here as fast as I could."

WOW! "He makes winds his messengers..." (Ps 104:3b) Yes, Lord. Take our prayers on the wings of your messengers as we call the prodigals home!

The Father's embrace

2010-06-21T06:10:00.001-07:00

I've been pondering on the embrace of the Father in the story of the prodigal son. First he runs to his son - imagine him, hitching up his garments, making a spectacle of himself, and pounding down the road... because he wants to get to him before others can taunt him, or abuse him or beat him up. This son has so dishonoured his father that the locals could attack him! So he runs.... and when he gets to him he flings his arms around him and kisses him over and over, tenderly, earnestly, repeatedly! This skinny, smelly, awkward and shame-filled young man is smothered in his father's love! What a welcome. What a sight for the villagers, who know the sorry saga. What a Father! What a picture of our Abba, Daddy.

It is a custom of mine now and then to ask people I don't know well to tell me how they came to faith in Jesus. Many of them describe how they came to "make a commitment", but then never tell me what GOD did! It is quite frustrating - and revealing, actually. I would think that if they had met the running Father and been swept up in his effusive embrace (or felt "the love of God being poured into their hearts through the Holy Spirit" - Rom.5:5) they would be hard put not to tell me!!! Have we sold people short, by telling them they had to 'make a commitment'? Shouldn't we rather tell them about this running, embracing, enthusiastic, merciful, forgiving Father who is searching for them daily with an aching heart?

I notice too that the Father interrupts the son's repentance speech and says to his servants, "Quick, get the best robe..." Quick? I had never seen that word before. Quick! Without hesitation - move fast! Why? Why not a leisurely stroll home? I think because he wants his son to be 'covered'. He wants all to see he is now 'honoured' and accepted. We interpret this as 'the robe of righteousness' that we are clothed in when we repent and turn to Christ. "Quick!" says the Father, "get the robe and cover him." This knowledge of being made right, made clean and new, having all our sins covered over can be that quick! Done in an instant! "Quick!" says the Father. I think he means it for us. Let's expect it, when we bring others to him.

Praying to hear Abba's pounding feet again for those I love...

It's your call

2010-06-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

"Draw near to God and he will draw near to you." James 4:8
The Scripture depicts the Lord as the seeking Shepherd who will relentlessly pursue those who are lost. But the 'found' are asked to "seek his face", to "draw near", to "seek him with all your heart". This is because he now responds not to our helplessness, but our HUNGER.
This is my challenge at present. Not filling the spaces but giving them to him to fill.

How much do you want what he has for you? How much value do you place on his presence or his power in your life? Will you pursue him until you take hold of him in a way that transforms your life? This will mean setting aside time to work together on what he has shown you. Take an hour or two this week to do this. Pray the Scriptures. Tell him you MUST meet him as Abba, Daddy and know his fondest love. Every night as you are going to sleep keep crying out for his Spirit to reveal to your deepest heart this perfect love. Don't settle for less than your birthright - your inheritance.

It is easy to give mental assent to something new that the Lord says to us, and file it away as "a good truth". This is like getting your main course and displaying it in a cabinet! How do we 'eat' the truth until it becomes a part of us? We pray it - we chew on it - we keep it before us, asking the Spirit to make it a heart reality, not just a head understanding. When we 'hunger and thirst' after him, he will come to us. LORD MAKE US A HUNGRY PEOPLE

We are never far from rain

2010-06-13T16:54:00.000-07:00

It has rained and rained over the last 2 or 3 weeks, with only half a day of sun here and there. But the earth is now soft and releasing the rain into rivers.
Bill Johnson said "We are never far from rain." This is because even in the valleys and the barren places in our lives the earth calls for rain, and the sky above is waiting to "pour out water on the thirsty land." Such is the way of the Father. Such is the way of his Kingdom.
It takes our calling, our crying out, our persistent and INsistent knocking...and he comes. And nothing else matters then. We dance in the rain. We drink in the rain. We bathe in his presence... then it's time for it to flow. The living water flowing out from our innermost being.
Are you waiting? Are you calling? Crying out? Insistently knocking? It is the seeking ones who receive. The hungry ones who will not be denied.

Don't stop - until he comes and rains upon you... and yours - and the dancing begins!

The only wise God, our Father...

2010-06-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

I have finally, in the last two or three years, been able to rest in the all-knowing, all-loving wisdom of God, and allow myself to slow down and listen and not over-react, knowing that sooner or later he will show me the way.

And this week he has done it again, in grand style! There have been three areas of my life where I have groaned before him wanting a light to go on. And what he has brought to my attention speaks powerfully to all three. How neat is that!

I have been soaking myself in free mp3 downloads of the teaching by Mark Stibbe on Healing the Orphan Heart. Can I recommend it to you? They are at www.saltlight.org/europe/resources/speaker/mark-stibbe(get the first 4 on the list) and also www.kingsgateuk.com and look for his messages - Receiving the Robe and the Ring, and From Slavery to Sonship. You can also buy his books and CDs on his website www.fathershousetrust.com

He quotes a wonderful revised version of the 23rd Psalm.

The Lord is my Abba, Daddy,
Therefore I am never in need.
He makes me rest in green meadows
And leads me beside peaceful, refreshing streams.
He always holds my hand and guides me along the right paths, bringing honour to his name.
Even when I have to walk in the dark valley of death,
My Abba Daddy is close beside me, so I am not afraid.
When my enemies are close he puts on a feast for me!
And he welcomes me as a special guest, anointing my head with oil and many kisses!
My life overflows with his generous blessings.
I know for sure that Abba Daddy's goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and one day I will live in his house forever.

What a Father!

Testing, testing, one, two, three

2010-06-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

Ever noticed that when you grasp truth in new ways, or testify (or write) about the goodness of God that you are then tested in it - often severely? It has happened to me in the last few days. Had to return to my own blog (journal?)and reread my own words in order to take hold of the truth I needed to push out of a life-sucking discouragement!!

I guess this is like Jesus after his baptism, affirmation and receiving of the Spirit. He was then "led by the Spirit out into the desert to be tested." Almost like "now here's your chance to prove it." I notice that the enemy uses our weak points to get in and test us; the unmet longings, the places of 'unrest' in us. This clearly reveals places where more surrender and trust needs to work through down to a new level. I can see too that no one else can make the choices for me about setting my face to seek the Lord and him only when under these assaults.

So - lots of YES places - as well as the apparent NO!

This also appears to test my study focus. I am preparing a message for this Sunday on how the love of the Father, poured out upon us by the Spirit, heals the 'orphan spirit' we all have. When we feel left out, abandoned, having unmet needs, not secure, not satisfied, not 'at home in his love'... we evidence again this 'orphan' mentality - because we have failed to drink deeply, and often enough, of the perfect love of our perfect heavenly Father.

Come Holy Spirit, pour out the love of the Father upon us again... cause us to drink until we are satisfied again, and able to delight in you as our source and our strength. Amen, amen, amen.

All Grace - at All Times?

2010-06-03T14:43:00.000-07:00

Chewing on the rich promise in 1 Peter 5:10
"After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you."
The suffering/trial/distress is temporary, the grace is all-sufficient as it is an expression of his nature, the glory is eternal and depends on Christ Jesus not us, his tender mercies are personal - "will HIMSELF..." and his work is comprehensive; perfecting - restoring - completing, confirming - assuring, strengthening our hearts and minds, establishing - making steadfast and sure.
Have you noticed how often "all" is used in Scripture? 2 Cor.9:8 "And God 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."
What would happen in us if we prayed to "The God of ALL GRACE"? Grace for all situations - be it patience, resilience, steadfastness, courage, wisdom, insight, generosity...
Oh for a deeper revelation of the all-sufficiency of his grace in all things at all times. Yes Lord!

But then, there is God.

2010-06-01T15:23:00.000-07:00

Had a yo-yo day. Inspired for an hour or so, then downcast after a disappointing conversation, then inspired again.... Realised my eyes were on the wrong things.

Reminded me of something I had read the other day. A quote from the old saint Hannah Whitall Smith - a woman married to a man antagonistic to God and to her. "I was passing through a great deal of questioning and perplexity, and I felt that no Christian had ever had such peculiar difficulties as mine before. I went to a deeply spiritual woman for help...pouring out all my troubles. When I had paused, expecting sympathy and consideration, she simply said, "Yes, all you say may be very true, but then, in spite of it all, there is God." I waited for a few minutes for something more, but nothing came. But, I continued, surely you did not understand how very serious and perplexing my difficulties are. Oh Yes I did, she replied, but then, as I tell you, there is God. And I could not induce her to make any other answer.
It seemed to me most disappointing and unsatisfactory. I felt that my peculiar and really harrowing experiences could not be met by anything so simple as merely the statement, Yes but there is God."
She describes how she doubted the woman's ability, but went back a number of other times with exactly the same result! And then she "dimly began to wonder whether after all God might not be enough even for my need... From wondering I came gradually to believing that, being my Creator and Redeemer, He must be enough; and at last a conviction burst upon me that He really was enough, and my eyes were opened to the fact of the absolute and utter all-sufficiency of God. My troubles disappeared like magic, and I did nothing but wonder how I could ever have been such an idiot as to be troubled by them, when all the while there was God, the Almighty and all-seeing God, the God who created me, and was therefore on my side and eager to care for me and help me. I had found out that God was enough and my soul was at rest."

Have you seen the dove?

2010-05-30T14:22:00.000-07:00

I was wondering, at Pentecost just past, why Jesus had the symbol of the Spirit as a dove - whereas the disciples had the tongues of fire. And this is what emerged for me...
We see the dove in the story of Noah. After the rain had stopped, Noah sent out a dove, and eventually it returned with an olive branch in it's mouth. Noah took this to mean that life was returning to the earth after the judgement of God.
We always see the dove as a sign of peace. That would mean 'peace with God' - because the judgement had passed. Is this also what the dove on Jesus meant? The sign of peace with God now - because of Jesus?
John the Baptist declared (just a couple of verses before he tells of Jesus and the dove) "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" So yes... why not? The dove is the Spirit pointing to Jesus as the one who takes away our judgement. The dove means "The judgement has passed" - because all our sins are laid on Jesus.
Have you seen the dove? Does he witness in your heart "the judgement has passed." Do you know for sure that there is no condemnation for you because you are in Christ Jesus?
Ask him to show you. He's good at that!

The cat who had ears to hear!

2010-05-26T17:20:00.000-07:00

We have a cute and gentle cat - Cinamon by name - who was being robbed of the joy of sitting on our knees! About 18 months ago she took offense at a second cat we took on as a favour to an elderly neighbour who had to go into care. Fluff cat, was old and insistent that she alone belonged on our knees. So Cinamon backed off with much bad humour. Fluff cat went to the happy hunting ground over a year ago - and still Cinamon held her grudge.
But one day a few weeks ago, I thought "Why is this animal still refusing to sit on our knee? The old one has died!" So I took her in my arms and spoke firmly and kindly close to her heart.... "Sweetie pie, I know you were offended by Fluff girl, but she is not here any more. She is gone! You can now sit on our knees anytime you want. In Jesus name I release you from this offense and say 'Get on our knees!' This is where you belong!"
I honestly did not think it through... it was just spontaneous... and I did not think about it any further.
But the next evening she walked along the back of the couch and then down my shoulder and onto my knee - where she slept for some time. She continues to get on my knee or David's knee. The problem has gone! I continue to be amazed... but should I? Are we not to speak life and order into all creation?
Mmm... what does this little 'parable' say about other 'injustices' and lacks we put up with?
Keep looking for his YES!

A new challenge

2010-05-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

I find that every few months the Lord digs in and issues me a challenge. This time I heard it while listening to John Ortberg (from a Willow Creek Leadership Summit) speak about making disciples.

"Do we admire Jesus, or follow him? Are we impressed or devoted? Do we applaud or do we surrender? Do we approve or do we obey?"

He talked about having public convictions - what I say so you will think I believe.
Private convictions - what I think I believe (but what often fails me in a test!)
Core convictions - what the hard places of life reveal I truly DO believe! Owch!

This is my learning curve... observing my core convictions in a crisis/test... and speaking into the deep places of my soul the 'superior' truth. eg. The other day I was roundly criticised... and began to feel fearful - but then spoke to myself the following: "God always intends good for me - so Lord, I wait to see your goodness in this." It lifted my fearful soul out of the downward spiral and 'set me on a rock'. I am looking for his YES! in this confusing situation and enjoying the view!
Keep looking up!
Kath

Having ears to hear...

2010-05-24T10:15:00.000-07:00

Welcome to this blog - a new venture to capture the divine 'yes' moments that bubble up daily. I find that having an ear to hearing God's YES keeps my heart singing, despite what life throws at me.
I recently went to the funeral of a former colleague, a sweet and gentle woman who died too early. She had a condition that came and went - and this time the complications were too much. Her husband, not known for inspired speech, touched us all by eloquently telling us about the visit he made with her to the hospital chapel. My friend was one who always struggled with the amount of suffering in the world. It caused her to doubt the love of God. At the end of the communion service she sat with a wonderful smile on her face, and she said to him, "I will never again doubt the love of God. It has washed over me with such reality just now - that I can never doubt it again." Within 18 hours she was dead.
What a merciful, loving God - to give him this wonderful assurance that his beloved wife is now totally emmersed in the perfect love of God forever.

Have you known the love of Jesus that fills and convinces your heart? Ask him to 'pour out his love upon you through the Spirit he has given.' Romans 5:5

Kath