MARI'S GOOD NEWS :)

I know many of you have come through here checking up on Mari's progress and praying for her - well the results are in and they are ALL good!

Thanks for hanging in there, and if you go to Mari's news you can read all about it in her own words.

It's been a long journey over the past year, and she has been brave and amazing, and now she has the all clear.

How thankful I am that even when separated by distance we can encourage and pray for one another and contribute to the process, with such amazing results. 

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness and love for Mari, and for listening to us when we really called out to you!

 

Y A Y !

POLISHED ARROWS

".....in the shadow of His hand He hid me; He made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in His quiver...."  Is. 49:2

But I said "I have laboured to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing.  Yet what is due me is in the Lord's hand, and my reward is with my God."  Is.49:4

How many of us know there are hopes and dreams, visions, and things that we have held close to our hearts and longed and prayed for, and yet they are not yet seen?  Do we sound in our speaking like the prophet Isaiah "I have laboured to no purpose..." because our eyes do not see what our hearts have longed for?

Have we forgotten verse 2 where there is the promise of being hidden and polished and concealed ... until it is time to fire the arrow towards the chosen target?

This is what the Lord says:

"In the time of my favour I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you;  I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people to restore the land, and to reassign its desolate inheritances, to say to the captives 'Come out', and to those in darkness 'Be free!' ..."

Isaiah 49 is full of powerful promises, and I love the fact that for those who live in New Zealand it speaks to the islands and the distant nations, and of what will be brought to the ends of the earth.

It speaks of a God who is ever working for redemption and salvation, who contends for those He created and loves and will never forget them.  It speaks of His overwhelming desire that all mankind will know Him.

We look at our lives, at world events, and our eyes move away from this powerful, creative, love on to all that is contrary to what He is speaking about, and we wonder how can all this connect to us now.

John 20 contains a beautiful turning point, a remarkable key, that opens the door to all that is spoken in Isaiah 49.

Mary Magdalene, the broken woman who was given forgiveness and new life by the Jesus she loved, has gone to the tomb where the lifeless body of her Lord had been laid when it was taken down from the cross.  Even the remnant of her hope was now gone - the tomb was empty.

She stood crying outside, and then as she wept, she bent over to look again at this dark, empty hole that had contained all she loved.  ("I have laboured for no purpose, I have spent my strength and in vain and for nothing..."). This is total darkness and desolation, pain and loneliness.

In this place of loss and pain, heaven touches earth!  We should be encouraged.  She sees two angels in the tomb.  The question from heaven is "Why are you crying: Who is it you are looking for?"

At this she TURNED AROUND AND SAW JESUS STANDING THERE, but she did not realise that it was Him.

ALL THAT SHE WAS MOURNING WAS STANDING THERE ALIVE!

Are we still looking into the dark cave of loss, sadness, pain, and broken dreams?

It is time to TURN AROUND and see that JESUS IS ALIVE and is the fulfillment of all the amazing things spoken in Isaiah 49, and spoken into our lives over the years.  We need eyes to see clearly in order that we WILL recognise Him in the place we stand now.

BECAUSE HE LIVES, all these things are possible.

BECAUSE HE LIVES, we can turn around and begin to see and live differently.

BECAUSE HE LIVES, He will answer us and help us, He will restore the land and reassign its desolate inheritances, the captives will come out and those in darkness can be free.  How long we have asked and wondered why it hasn't happened!

WE JUST HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND SEE HIM STANDING THERE ALIVE! 

Our prayer is not effective because we groan, labour, weep and work, it is effective because we KNOW HE LIVES.

We are simply the shaft of the arrow that is being polished and prepared to fly straight and true to the target He has chosen.  He shoots the arrow, and he is the arrowhead that breaks through ahead to make the way straight!l

Lord give us the courage to place our lives in Your hands and to completely trust You.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:20 & 21

LOOKING THROUGH THE SMOKE

I watch the television news, read the media reports, and am wide-eyed and open-mouthed at our sheep like ability to be led anywhere the loudest and strongest voice wants to take us.  We have become so enamoured of the screens that feed us entertainment and information that we presume it all to be honest and without bias!

When did we forget that we, like every other nation on earth, are composed of many ethnic groups, many types of people and leaders, that we have those who do good and those who commit murder.  So what exactly allows us to become the judge and the jury on what takes place elsewhere, and begin to join the media generated international howl for blood!  How then do we differentiate ourselves form anyone else in the earth?

When did we Kiwis lose our sense that there is good to be found in each person, each nation, and forget to look for that?  When did we suddenly forget that there are innocents, women and children, godly people, in every nation on the earth?

My heart breaks for the innocent whose lives are being shattered or lost on both sides of the current middle eastern conflict.  I feel for those in Gaza who find themselves caught up in something they never wanted to be part of, and for those in Israel who have been fleeing from Gaza-launched rockets that have been fired into their cities through the months of 'cease fire'.  Which side do we label 'aggressor' in such a situation.

Innocent people are always the victims in wars that have nothing whatsoever to do with such people, but are about the leaders of nations, or factions, battling to grasp or hold power.  When will see that it is the struggle for power, and those who pursue such power for whatever stated ideal, that is the core of the issue?

Is it time to look through the smoke, to begin intelligent investigation of history and cause.  It is time to cease being led sheep like to the conclusion placed in front of us, and begin to use the intelligence God gave us in the pursuit of understanding that will allow us to speak out and walk in truth.

  But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light ...

John 3:21

2009

NEW DIMENSION OF POWER

As we move into the new year there is a strong sense of a new power dimension in Jesus that will be opened up for those He can trust.  I feel Him saying:  "Wait, do not grow weary or impatient, wait."

There has been a stripping away for many, a place of feeling empty and of having nothing left.  A great stretching into greater ability to love, bless and forgive - the fruit of the Spirit growing and ripening even though not obvious. 

There will also be a sending.  Wait.  Let the One who has done His good work also be the One who opens the doors and makes the way.  He truly want to be, and will be, the Way, the Truth and the Life as He outworks all that He is through His prepared friends.

"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you" John 15:15

LOVE IS HIS SIGNATURE

I believe the Lord is saying that in the days ahead this will be the signature to look for, the indicator of His will and His presence.  "Its all about love, without this nothing is of me, for I AM LOVE."  There will be a greater awareness of His love than ever before and this will be evident to those who need to know it.  He has spoken of this many times before, and wants now to remind us of things previously spoken.

The Lord drew my attention to the difference in results between indulgent human love and His love

 
- Indulgent love: looks to bring good to both the giver and receiver and is selfish, weak and spoils, whereas

- God's strong love is full and powerful, willing to do what is best for the receiver regardless of personal cost..

GOD'S GREATNESS & ABILITY

Psalm 114 draws our attention to God's sovereignty, sanctuary, dominion, presence and His miraculous power.

He is wanting to remind us of these things again as we enter this new year, in order that we would be expectant and looking for all that He is.

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.  Isaiah 42:16

THE ANOINTING

To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"  John 2:16 

I saw for the first time that when Jesus cleansed the temple He spoke separately to those who were selling doves.  I felt this relates now to those who would 'merchandise the anointing'.  The Holy Spirit (dove) is a very personal and powerful part of the Godhead.  This is precious oil poured from heaven and is given freely by God.  Jesus paid the price for this and so it comes free.  We should in no way profit from this, but give freely what has been given to us as we live, move and have our being in Him.

This warning would indicate that He will pour out and is cautioning us to take great care with what we are given.

THE TURNING TIDE - See Post below.