Eagleswings

GOD’S ABILITY TO COMPLETE HIS PLANS – 2012

2011-12-31T09:52:00.001+13:00

…being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

God completes what He has begun, that is more important than what we think we can do!

As I sat praying about the year to come, and thinking of past visions and words He has given, that the Lord was saying it was ‘time to rest and get ready’.

PICTURE

Rows of soldiers wearing old fashioned amour – the sense is that what they wear and walk in is not new but very foundational and strong.

These soldiers are happy, and instead of traditional weapons each one is carrying a branch covered with fresh green leaves, they look ‘evergreen’ as if they will not wilt or drop.

On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding it’s fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 2:22

The branches the soldiers carry are for the ‘healing of the nations’ many will soon be sent out. Wait for the Lord’s call and sending, it will be right on time and the choice of destination will be His alone.

SHAKING

We have experienced ‘shaking’ in both the natural and spiritual realms. I see that those who are part of the church that the Lord Himself is building will stand in Him and in His strength alone.

Their earthly roots have been shaken loose in order that the Lord can put His living stones in their right places. I feel that the shaking in Christchurch has been a prophetic picture in this regard – the central place of worship for each of the major denominations was severely shaken.

Felt the Lord then said there was more to come but right now I should sleep … maybe a dream! When I awoke I had to attend to email and a dream that had been sent to see if the Lord would give me an interpretation. The content of the dream confirmed that the Lord’s visions are being outworked in His own way and plan causing us to be vulnerable but the unexpected is leading to the purposed destination.

MOVING IN THE UNDERGROWTH

I saw God’s people moving unnoticed through low bush and scrub. This was God’s safety and protection and it was a very quiet and beautiful place. HIS movement is currently hidden and will remain that way until He wants it seen. There is a sense of great connection with birds, animals and all of nature – this would seem a very good and natural place for us as Kiwis!

Though moving beneath the scrub, the direction is always upwards towards the top of a mountain, and even there the scrub and bigger trees provide safe cover.

I see again the ongoing picture of a great eagle flying over the tree tops and drawing flocks of smaller birds up out of the tree cover to fly high and free towards a great outpouring of light. (See Vision of a Higher Place below).

It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and becoming mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11 and onwards)

The whole of this reinforces the sense of God’s building out of the eternal plan He alone knows. This is a time to place our desires and plans on His altar, putting them safely in His hands as He alone is able to bring this to completion in His Son. It is a place of faith and trust in God alone.

I feel we need to stay quiet, stay low and hidden in Him as something momentous is being outworked in and around us. I hear Him saying “And so it was ……” which to me speaks of a time of fulfilling what God has spoken to and through His true prophets. I believe it is a time when He is raising up His standard in the face of much of what we see in the natural in the earth in this time.

VISION OF A HIGHER PLACE (August 2005)

I can feel the raw newness of what is ahead. It is raw, fresh, and edgy in a way we haven’t felt for quite some time. It looks like bush/forest, wet from rain, when the sun comes out. You know it is beautiful but not comfortable. It is beautiful but still being viewed from a distance and not yet engaged.

I see the eagle swooping and dipping in the clear blue sky above all of this, seeing it’s surface but not knowing what is hidden below the shining, glittering, surface. No space to land has appeared.

As the eagle swoops over the forest, many smaller birds begin to emerge and also fly around above the trees, as if they are being awakened to their ability to do so. Their numbers increase until there is much activity. “Cannot see the wood for the trees” comes to mind.

It seems something new has begun but it is not visible in the midst of our current life and circumstances. I see a very strong prophetic call being released to call people up higher. As they rise to this call and seek all that heaven offers them, they will move into a clear space and begin to see and move in the purposes of God in a fresh and new way. There is a clear distinction here – the call is to the purposes of God, not of man and this will not be found by man’s direction, but by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I felt to read Psalm 139 and is seems to give good direction for this journey which is INTO the Lord.

As I watch the flying eagle, smaller birds, and glistening treetops, the sun appears to shine continually brighter, and the sky becomes filled with golden light.

The scripture that seemed to cover what I was looking at is found in Ezekiel 43 v 2:

…and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with His glory.

There are many who are feeling the tug and pull of change right now, circumstances radically altered. I believe the Lord is beginning to do His building, and calling those who will come, wait on Him, and serve Him out of a place of His rest.

CUPS OF WATER

2011-12-11T00:37:00.001+13:00

It's THAT time of year again when all reason seems to fly away on tinsel and glitter and materialism reigns. I love the family side of Christmas, the time together is full of surprises, food, and laughter, but it's sad to see the long check-out lines and over-laden trolleys, and the stressed faces of those who are trying to make their few dollars go a very long way.

Yesterday I spent the morning with some people who are struggling to get their heads above water and to deal with the hand life has currently dealt them. We talked about what it meant to really live. It isn't about what we do or don't have materially and externally (although those things help keep us comfortable) but more about what is happening on the inside of us.

It is so important that each of us is able to live life, to live out of something internal and untouchable that sustains us through whatever we encounter day to day. It is a choice - to live minute by minute and hour by hour to the full, not waiting for all the other things to fall in to place but making a decision that we will grasp and live the life we have this very moment.

The next stop was with a solo mum and her six week old baby - taking the remains of our banana cake and having a cuppa and a catch up with her. While she fed the baby we re-arranged her living room and folded washing for her - all those things new mums don't have time for. There were lots of laughs and a tidy home at the end of it all. Nice to wave goodbye to a smiling mum and a contented baby.

Those things don't sound much, they weren't difficult to do, but faces lit up and hope and joy increased in those lives as a result. The very hope and life that came to earth in a humble place as a free gift to each of us was passed on once more. It didn't cost anything except time, and came out of the abundance of what has been given to each of us. Is this not what it means to live?

My hope this Christmas is that many will choose to live in the fullness of all we have been given and then let it overflow into the lives around us. We have been given a priceless gift that cannot be taken from us, and it needs to be passed on and ignited in the lives of others. We have the gift of Life Himself, we celebrate that He was born, and we honour that gift by sharing it with the very people He visited when He walked on this earth. It is a cup of water for the thirsty - how many free cups of water can we give away this Christmas I wonder?

DELIGHTS IN THE DESERT

2011-11-14T14:17:00.001+13:00

This Saturday I had time to browse in my favourite second-hand book store, and found a book that is delighting me with it's insights - it's immensely encouraging. So, I'm putting a couple of quotes here for any fellow travellers who might get joy from them also.

The writer is speaking of her life as a Benedictine living in the inner city: "It is here, in a place that the late Trappist monk Thomas Merton called the new wilderness, that I built my hut. Merton thought it the new desert because the centre of our cities are barren and dry, devoid of hope, of promise, of possibility."

"What do I do here? I plead a case for presence, beauty, community, and a call to follow God into the wilderness.

Once upon a time men and women who wanted to seek God relocated themselves in abandoned places. These 'wilderness places' often associated with the desert, gave the seekers a unique perspective and freedom.

Living on the margins of society, stripped of the trappings of social expectation and pressure, they began to see differently. Immersed in the word of God, they began to listen differently. They put on the broken heart of God and spoke the truth on God's behalf for the poor, the victims of injustice, the suffering.

Their location in the wilderness gave them great freedom. Why? Because no one paid attention to them. Because they were not the movers and shakers of the city. Because they had no political influence, no one cared what they did. No one even noticed their quiet works of transformation among the poor until suddenly "the desert and parched land bloomed with abundant flowers"."

Quotes are from "A Monk in the Inner City" by Mary Lou Kownacki.

This expresses so accurately what is happening in many cities in the earth right now. Let us become unafraid to see and listen differently, and just maybe we will hear God calling us to come and walk in dry and barren places with Him, and have the joy of seeing Him make these same places bloom with abundant flowers! May we too find a new perspective and new freedom.

GRAIN, NEW WINE & OIL

2011-11-06T17:36:00.001+13:00

For the last few days I have been reading Joel 2 and Luke 5 again and again.

The seriousness of this hour we live in, and the depth of the cry in my heart that God would be with us, leading us, teaching us, enabling us, grows daily.

All of Joel needs to be read to keep this in it's true context, but chapter 2 :12-19 are speaking loudly to me.

"Even now", declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows: He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing - grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.

Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar. Let them say, "Spare your people, O Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, "Where is their God?"

THEN the Lord will be jealous for his land and take pity on his people. The Lord will reply to them: "I am sending you grain, new wine and oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations."

Luke 5:37-39

And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.' "

Many of us have tasted and loved what has become old wine, and we are as dried up old wine skins. Let us ask that God would bless us to be made new and flexible, letting go of the old (even though it tasted good) so that we may be filled with new wine once more.

My Prayer : Lord I can feel the flow and power of Your Word as I read it. We have become incoherent for the lack of Your Word, with it's power and truth. I see us in Your Body as various groups who have become so excited over a portion of the truth you've revealed to us that we have made camp there and made it our all.

Please shake us loose and lead us on, help us to realise that You are infinite and there is so much more You want to teach and reveal to us. Help us to be awake, alert, with our lamps filled and oil to spare in this hour. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand what You are saying and doing.

We bring our hearts and our cry before You Lord, and ask that You would send us grain, new wine and oil in this season to strengthen us to call that You would 'spare Your people O Lord' and the cry would arise again and again out of the nations.

THE HOUSE

2011-10-18T14:47:00.002+13:00

In recent days I have been considering the place I find myself in - moving backwards and forwards between working with struggling, marginalised people and then my quiet place of prayer and contemplation. The gap feels huge at times, and I have cried out for a place in The Body where I can find fellowship in the midst of this.

The comment I made to myself recently was "I feel like a worm in some kind of rotting board in the basement of a crumbling building". A tiny life holding on to an original concept long forgotten. This spark of life that we carry must be constantly kept alive by time in His presence and in knowing the Spirit of God beyond the froth and bubble of current 'revival' seeking, so that we can walk out a life that carries His light into dark places, to the poor and marginalised people - not necessarily the economic poor - that they might be revived and find life.

ALL earthly buildings eventually begin to break down, ONLY the house the Lord builds can (and will) remain standing.

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

ONLY the house God builds will stand and He builds, not with bricks and mortar, but with living stones, men and women. Are we willing to let Him join the stones together?

When men actively recruit and draw numbers into the organisation or building they have made, who is building the house?

When a group considers it holds the truth and begins to exclude all who do not abide by it's truth and rules, who is building the house?

When the drawing is to 'church' rather than to relationship with the Lord and the life He gives, who is building the house?

Should we wonder that boards and buildings and organisations and programmes decay and fall into disrepair if they are not built by the Lord?

Surely if we live, move and have our being in Him, then each of us will know that same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1) .....and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is HIS BODY, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.

Surely we can trust Him in His great power to oversee HIS BODY of which He is THE HEAD, to take care of every single, even the most minute part, of what is His alone.

Perhaps if we could love, trust and serve Him in this way He would build His church and display the manifold wisdom of God to the rulers and authorities in heavenly realms as God ordained it should do, and we would see the change (revival?) we cry out for.

Do we need to be reminded again to 'let go and let God' have His way.

I am convinced that we have not yet seen this beautiful bride that is His church because we have either been unable or unwilling to let Him shape and clothe her.

Can we humbly admit our weakness and ask that in this place He might come and show Himself strong. "God of nations, at they feet..." is not an anthem designed for rugby games alone. Are we able to take our rightful place, not just at, but under His feet, in order that His great love and lordship, wisdom, majesty and power, can be displayed.

As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is ONE BODY and ONE SPIRIT - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6)

Jesus Christ gave Himself up in order to present His bride/church in what was the ultimate sacrifice of great love.

"...to present her to Himself as a RADIANT CHURCH, without any stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." (Ephesians 5).

The desire to see something fitting and radiant brings me to tears.

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

2011-09-26T13:17:00.005+13:00

Sometimes we gain greater understanding by looking at events outside of our usual thinking or calendar.

This week provides a great opportunity to do that.

For some time I have found a verse in Ezra really highlighted and so will share the findings for anyone who would like to ponder it further.

Ezra 3:6 (and you will need to read the surrounding chapters to get the full context of this) "On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, though the foundation of the Lord's temple had not yet been laid."

The people of Israel were doing what they could, with what they had, where they were, in that moment in time. We can do exactly the same - too often we are held back by some idea that we can't move until everything is perfect and in place - this means that much actually never comes to pass!

In terms of the Hebrew calendar, the first day of the seventh month (1 Tishri) is the first day of a new sacred year. This takes place on Thursday 29 September 2011. It is marked by the blowing of the ram's horn and known as the Feast of Trumpets. This is a call to prepare for the Day of Atonement which comes 10 days later - a solemn period of cleansing and preparation. Five days after Yom Kippur begins the Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth) - a time of remembrance of the tent dwelling during the Exodus, and a celebration of the fruit harvest.

These were feasts ordained by God to bring His people together before Him in repentance, remembrance, and rejoicing.

As many of us find ourselves in a time of change, it is good to remember that there are patterns and experiences set out for us in God's Word.

Perhaps the most useful thing we can remember in this season is that God's endings are also new beginnings. He closes off the old to bring us into the new. He Himself is the 'first and last, the beginning and the end' and the 'finisher of our faith'.

He has shown us a process He works through with all of us that will be like a lamp to our path to show us the way through this current time.

CHANGE

2011-09-12T09:31:00.001+12:00

It seems so long since I have written anything here! This is mostly because of the tremendous pressure of change. Right now there is a feeling of being tossed around in pounding waves - at the same time I sit with the deep peace of God in my heart and know that all is well with Him.

Many years ago now, I stood at the tip of the North Island, New Zealand, and looked at the collision of two great oceans meeting.
There was foam and flotsam that marked the meeting point, and I remember the Lord speaking clearly to me and saying "When you are at a point of change, stay in the boat, don't get out and try to swim".

If I am sure of anything right now, it is that I am not alone in this place. Many find themselves caught up in the process of change. So, stay safely in the place you know in the Lord, hold to Him and He will hold on to you, and you WILL make it safely to the other side.

Right now we have the Rugby World Cup games taking place in this country. Last night I watched Wales and South Africa play a tremendous game, both sides showing great strength, and there were many collisions in the game, but only one winner.

There will be many collisions for us at the point of change, many decisions to be made, and we know above all else that God alone rules and reigns, we have chosen to align ourselves with the winning side!

Today I have read Hosea chapter 6 again:

"Come let us return to the Lord, He has torn us to pieces but He will heal us; He has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days He will revive us, on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in His presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."

We have a great promise and a certainty that is the boat that carries us through the tumult of change and safely into the calm waters on the other side - changed by the process, but ready to embrace all He will now bring our way.

BECOMING PRAYER

2011-06-14T12:18:00.001+12:00

In recent reading I have found some gems on prayer and want to share them with anyone reading this who has the same passion to go deeper with God until we no longer 'do' prayer but become a prayer He prays through and uses.

Thomas Merton in "New Seeds of Contemplation" describes this outworking in a wonderful way!

"......in all things, in your interior life and in your outward works for God, you desire only one thing, which is the fulfillment of His will. If you do this, your activity will share the disinterested peace that you are able to find at prayer, and in the simplicity of the things you do men will recognize your peacefulness and will give glory to God.

It is above all in this silent and unconscious testimony to the love of God that the contemplative exercises his apostolate. For the saint preaches sermons by the way he stands and the way he sits down and the way he picks things up and holds them in his hand. The perfect do not have to reflect on the details of their actions. Less and less conscious of themselves, they finally cease to be aware of themselves doing things, and gradually God begins to do all that they do, in them and for them, at least in the sense that the habit of His love has become second nature to them and informs all that they do with His likeness."

As we ponder this need for an unconscious rather than self-conscious outworking of His life in us I am compelled to give everything back into His hands and re-enter the place of surrender and trust. My prayer becomes one of open-handed flexibility to His Way and His Will.

"To you Lord I give my heart, mind, soul and spirit, all of my life. I am still, knowing that you ARE all You say You are. You are the source of ALL my life, and it is through You, from You, and in You that everything exists. I am encompassed and enveloped in You, and I choose to surrender myself to all that was in Your heart when You created me, when You saw my unformed substance and knew both the beginning and end of my life, and everything in between."

STILL AND STRONG

2011-04-24T12:24:00.001+12:00

There is a beautiful stillness about Easter, as if we pause and become quiet in the face of something so powerful and mysterious.

Once again the love and grace of God settles over His creation, and it feels as if He is brooding, waiting, for hearts to respond to the gift He has given the world.

The bustle of excitement that is around the baby's birth gives way to the impact of the death of the man. The Son who was not dragged kicking and screaming to the cross, but who calmly and silently walked there carrying You and I with Him.

Everything we would ever struggle with was laid upon Him, and He broke it's power to hold us. He became our answer and, as He rose triumphant over sin, death and EVERY work of the enemy, He became the ONLY Way, Truth and Life we will ever need.

In the quiet of the garden Mary found an empty tomb. Her dismay and alarm were then met by the One she sought. Here He was, in person, alive and talking to her, the One she loved who was dead and now lived.

This is how He comes to each of us in our moments of distress, quietly there, alive and walking with us. What He has done and still does for us is profoundly beautiful in every way.

May everything that Easter sets before us be yours today and always, Jesus Christ is the centre of the story and the centre of our lives.

"I AM" by Brett a'Court

TIMELESS INSTRUCTIONS

2011-03-19T16:43:00.001+13:00

In the face of all we are seeing and experiencing right now I found myself drawn again to Matthew 24 where Jesus spoke of the things that would take place around us and made some pretty specific statements:

"See to it that you are not alarmed" (Matt. 24:6) and

"but he who stands firms to the end will be saved." (Matt. 24:12)

in the midst of a whole lot of other amazing advice! We are brought back time and again to one of the verses that has always secured my life :

"Be still and know that I am God" which is enough in every situation. In the fact of almost every situation we could ever experience or imagine, this wonderful statement takes hold of us, steadying and calming us in the face of the storms of life.

There is so much richness to be gleaned from such a short verse. :)

KNOW that He is still God.

KNOW that He is unchanging, always the same, yesterday, today and for all time.

KNOW that He has won the victory and rules and reigns for all time.

KNOW that His eyes range to and fro over the whole earth, waiting to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are turned towards Him.

KNOW that His nature is LOVE, and He will not deny who He is.

KNOW He created everyone and everything and knows ALL He has made and all the plans and purposes He has determined for His creation.

As we know this we are not tossed to and fro by the changing tides of human action and opinion, but carried forward in the strong steady flow of the river of His Life.

I am often unsettled by things I see, and things I hear men saying and doing, and then I remember that He is God, and His great plan and purpose will be worked out for them and for me. Once again I can be still and KNOW He is sufficient, all I will ever need, and my soul and spirit become quiet before Him.

Thomas Merton says "Here the truth is One whom we not only know and possess, but by Whom we are known and possessed."

I am so grateful that such a big and wonderful God who never sleeps, made me, came looking for me, and made me His own.

"Lord, who do You say that I am?"

"MINE".

HOPE

2011-03-01T22:34:00.001+13:00

In the midst of the devastation that has rocked Christchurch and all of this nation I have watched the images and wept again, again and again. We are indeed one nation and when one part is hurting we all hurt with it.

Today as we observed 2 minutes silence to honour and respect those who have paid the ultimate price in this disaster, I could feel a shaking deep within me, something alive and feeling this loss with every fibre of my being.

As I've sat contemplating the damage and death and loss faced by the people of Christchurch and those who love and care for them, I am reminded of one of my favourite stories in the bible, Noah's ark.

Having survived total devastation of everything around them, and floated in the ark for a long time, Noah and his family begin to think ahead and Noah opens up the ark and eventually sends out a dove to see if she will find some dry land.

The dove returns, having found nowhere to land, and Noah puts out his hand and draws her back into the safety of the ark.

Time and again we are like that dove, we have faced things that are difficult and we do not know where to stand in them. It is in these times most of all that God, in all his loving kindness and compassion, puts out His hand to draw us deep into Himself.

Eventually Noah sent the dove out again, and this time she returned with an olive leaf that showed that indeed there was life to be seen and found, and then on the third time, she did not return at all as she had found a place to land.

May it be so for those most affected by this terrible earthquake, and for those who love and care for them. May our loving and merciful God take them into His great and creative hands, and hold them safe for a season of healing and restoration. When the time is right, may they be released, strong and able, to go out and find their place to stand.

National Anthem with Christchurch montage on TV One

2011-02-26T13:32:00.000+13:00

PRAY FOR CHRISTCHURCH

2011-02-22T20:03:00.001+13:00

People of Christchurch we pray for you to know the love and comfort of God in this awful situation. Please know that our love and prayers go out to you.

We ask Lord that you will be with those trapped in collapsed buildings and lead the rescuers to them. Please comfort those who have lost the ones they love, especially the 65 lives we know of so far. Please be with those sleeping in parks and places away from their homes. Please give wisdom to those overseeing the rescue efforts.

We pray for the very heart of the people and city to be strengthened and comforted, and that you will give to them a fresh vision and hope in the days ahead.

EXPANDED!

2011-02-11T14:25:00.001+13:00

This is my first week back with my new friends in Refuge, after the first real holiday break in 2 years. As a result I am in a very rested place and find it possible to evaluate and see things a little more clearly than this time last year - to see and feel my function in facilitating these groups.

The true function is that I pick up these women and carry them in my heart before the Lord! I could feel it all of Wednesday night, a constant conversation. And again the same thing on Thursday.

It feels as if, way beyond what may be taught or learned, the love of God embraces and begins to work in and with them, and they respond quickly and openly to that love. I am encouraged to think that somehow without my fully comprehending it, this has indeed become prayer.

It was not that the circumstances had to change as much as my heart had to be enlarged and expanded for the task - this is what has taken time.

For many years I have asked the Lord that I would not 'do' prayer but become a prayer in action in all of life - it feels this year as if I might actually have my foot on the first rung of the ladder. He is indeed the God who answers!

Mother Teresa said "Prayer in action is love, and love in action is service. Try to give unconditionally whatever a person needs in the moment."

TRULY LIVING

2011-01-31T23:18:00.001+13:00

As we look at all that's taking place around the world right now it becomes more apparent each day that we need to know who we truly are, and how we will live and maintain our peace in the face of what we see!

Sometimes I think we forget that although we are born of our natural parents, by God's intention and design, this natural birth is wrapped in something far bigger and wider in it's reality. To recognise and engage with the author and designer of our lives is to move outside of our limited understanding and into the path of the One who lovingly works to be connected to those He created. We are able to enjoy the benefits of His tireless watch over His children, and His leading into things that are eternal rather than simply contained in the here and now.

We move beyond our natural birth into a new kind of life, one that gives us new eyes to see, ears to hear with, and hearts able to understand the love and wonder of a life filled with far greater promise than we had ever imagined.

In this process we begin to find the self we were truly created to be, leaving behind the false self - an image woven by our desire to obtain the approval and acclaim of men and women whose expectations and demands weigh heavily upon us. We move beyond the ideas and expectations that are human and limited.

This deeper walk with God takes us deeper into who He truly created us to be, not what we think, but what He actually knows and has always known. The search for this takes His children down many paths, most of which are dead ends, and some stop there. However, there is a need to keep walking and when we find ourselves gazing at a wall it's time to turn and look around for Him again.

The depths of this search can feel dark and lonely to our souls, but our spirits are being constantly and steadily awakened to this great light that shines in the darkness. Jesus said "I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." It was God's idea to let light shine out of darkness and increasingly lets this light shine in our hearts.

Jesus was the invisible made visible, and so his face was displayed in the earth for all to see. Now that same light is reflected in our hearts and He continues to shine in the darkness when we walk in the birth of the person we were truly created to be.

This world we live in needs more and more light shining against the darkness that pours out violence, hatred and disorder around us. Jesus said "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men ...."

The end result of becoming our true selves, willing to be lights that shine in dark places, is an increase in us and in those places of love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

It's my desire to shed the dark garments of my false self so that more light is evident. To walk into the great promise that the plans God has for me are for good and not evil, to prosper and not harm me, to give me a future and a hope. Those are the things so many seek not knowing that they are only found fully in being the true selves God created.

We thought we were born of our natural parents alone, but there was always this higher, wider, greater, thing going on.

2011

2011-01-02T17:30:00.002+13:00

Here are a few gleanings from waiting and listening at the end of one year and as we move into a new one. May each of you who read this blog be held in God's plan and purpose for you through this year, and know that all He has in His heart for you is GOOD.

On the morning of December 28, 2010 I woke up with the words of Matthew 5:16 on my mind:

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

There is such a strong sense of our need to step out of the shadows and become fully what God created each of us to be. As we live this out it brings great glory to Him. It is true humility to embrace and live all that He desires for us, for then we are living in the Truth.

I continue to be aware of a great pathway of heavenly love and power between heaven and earth. It is open, but requires utter truth in the innermost parts of those who walk it. Was this Enoch's path I wonder?

Again on 30 December I saw this same heavenly connection between God and those who will walk fully in His Truth. It is like a highway of great substance that stands out from everything else around it and makes all else appear to have no substance at all. It flows out of heaven and spreads out as it goes. Moving on it towards God would be like moving upstream against the currents of the world's flow - not easy, but worth more than anything else in life.

Psalm 46:4 came to mind as I looked at this flow:

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

The whole of Psalm 46 seems important to hold in our hearts as we move into what is ahead.

oo0oo

During the night of December 28, 2010 I had a very vivid dream. In it I was with the group of young adults in a gymnasium somewhere in the USA. They were all in very serious training, running, exercising, doing press ups. At the same time, some of their group had been caught up in a huge tornado-type storm and I could see them being hurled around in the midst of this as it carried them along. One young man was very apparent and seemed to have been sucked into the very centre of the storm which was full of lightning and thunder. At the end of the dream this young man appeared, he seemed to be the only survivor and was very battered but recovering. It was evident that the experience had made him fit for leadership and all the others now looked to him for wise direction.

oo0oo

Twice I have been lead into 2 Chronicles 34. King Josiah, young as he was, did well in returning Israel to the Lord - the thing that caused the greatest change was finding the book of the Law that God had given to Moses, and in reading discovered how far they had strayed from God's instructions to them. I believe again God is calling us to pursue His Truth and His Word and use this as the plumline to evaluate our lives. In spite of all the good he had done, Josiah eventually died because he was carried by his zeal to fight a battle that the Lord was clearly telling him not to fight - our greatest strength can also be our weakness, and this needs to be watched as carefully at the end as at the beginning of our life and work.

oo0oo

Ezra 3:10 - The rebuilding of the altar. When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel.

There are many who have been faithfully following a path they truly believe the Lord had led them to. They have at times wondered if they heard Him right, especially as they can see so few, or no, results. I feel that the Lord has indeed been building, against great opposition, as was the case in the time of Ezra. The word I hear Him using is that He has established BEACHHEADS and in 2011 the result of those being established will be seen and will be cause for rejoicing - it will be an indicator that He is truly building HIS House, and there will be fruitfulness from what has been sown.

These results will be seen especially by those who have been willing to leave the froth and bubble of the shoreline and have the courage to move out into the deep oceans of His presence. Now He will begin to draw on what has been deposited and resides deep within their souls and spirits. They are deep wells and many are thirsty. There have been those in the church who were not willing, or have not had the courage to move into these deeper waters, but the courageous are those who have been used to establish the beachheads the Lord desires in this time.

oo0oo

I believe that for the year ahead the Lord is encouraging us through Ephesians 6 to 'stand firm'. He will continue to be true to His word in Amos 3:7 that He does nothing without revealing it to his prophets - listen for His voice. In John 15:4, He is reminding us that we must remain in Him, and He in us, if we are to see fruit. Finally in Revelation 20:2-10, He is reminding us of His total victory over the enemy.

We must never forget that God spoke EVERYTHING into being, and He never ceases to be God.

Shalom in 2011.

A THOUGHT THAT RESOUNDS

2010-11-19T09:16:00.002+13:00

Currently I am reading Thomas Merton's "New Seeds of Contemplation" and recently was left speechless by one very short sentence!

"God utters me like a word containing a partial thought of Himself."

The ramifications of this thought keep running around in me. Like a stone thrown into a pool these words keep sending out ripples of thought that are a constant delight and challenge.

There is first of all a wonderful picture of God opening His mouth and breathing out a word/name that contains enough of His being to go out and become everything that is in His heart and mind as He speaks. Carried by His breath, this Word from God goes on and on until all that He had in mind has come to pass! We know His Word does not return to Him void. What a glorious picture of the Creator and His creation joined by His breath - who or what can mess with that kind of creative power, or with the man or woman who has come to understand the incredible way they have been made.

Then I begin to think of this in terms of all men and women, all of creation, everything that has been created has been created by God. Once again it has wide reaching ramifications for you and I and how we relate to absolutely everything around us, especially people. How could we ignore, mistreat or harm - it is like shaking a fist in the face of God and telling Him what He makes is no good! It also releases us into a greater joy in knowing that He can be seen and found in everyone, even if His presence is not obvious at first glance. If they're breathing then He is present!

Such thoughts sow hope and breed perseverance. In the face of what looks impossible they connect us to the creative and redemptive power of a God who loves everything He has made and says it is good - even when it is behaving badly. The death and resurrection of His Son make it possible for God to move with power to bring change. This knowledge sets a new measure of His heart in us and we are able to love more in even the most difficult of circumstances. Surely this is a glorious statement into the heavenlies and to the powers and authorities He intends should see His power displayed in this way through HIS Church.

In the light of this the question can never be of power, wealth, fame, or recognition. No it is about people, or as our Maori friends would say "te tangata, te tangata, te tangata". I cannot become rich while my brother or sister wastes away in brokenness and poverty. I cannot accept recognition when my brothers and sisters are marginalised and overlooked. What use is worldly power when it cannot change these lives and circumstances?

The changes that need to come cannot be brought about by the legal process, they will only happen through an outpouring of love and grace, the outworking of that Word and Breath that brought each of us to be. Recognised in each other, this joins us to our Creator and to one another.

May the Word that He breathed carry each and every one of us to the fulfillment of all and everything He intended as He opened His mouth to speak.

The Tension between the Two!

2010-10-19T15:16:00.001+13:00

Today I find myself once again wrestling with the tension between the prayerful and practical parts of my life. I am sure others do this also, and maybe it reflects the ongoing tension that exists in this world of ours, in the 'church', in the outworking of The Life that is continuing to grow and find expression through our lives.

The picture I have in front of me is of a woman with her head stuck in heaven and her feet firmly attached to the earth, and this ongoing desire to comfortably marry the two so that existence can be a little less tense! It feels as if there has to be some place in the middle where the two can meet and co-exist in a manageable manner.

Even as I write that, I suspect that it will never be possible and that there is a picture here of something that needs to exist to give expression to the place we stand in, a place that will only alter when Jesus Himself comes to rule and reign.

I love to sit in His presence, to spend hours in contemplation and prayer, to be in this world and, for a little time, not really of it at all. Then out of that time there is a love set in my heart that overflows and has to find its outlet; that feels the pain, sees the brokenness, and needs to somehow engage it.

Somehow this does bring about a meeting place - where I can experience great joy as I see that His love is enough as it touches a life for a moment, as a circumstance changes, as hope is released where it previously did not exist, This meeting, however, is momentary and not sufficient to sustain for any length of time.

Back into the hidden place I run, heart empty and open to be filled and owned again, soul in pain, spirit crying out for more of what compelled me outward in the first place.

This tension is like a wheel that constantly turns. Yes, there is a kind of rhythm in its turning, and yes it holds me to something greater than myself as I turn, and yet there are moments when I want it all to stop.

Are we engaged without knowing it in some kind of intercession by this very life we live, and in these very battles we fight within and without? I hear the calls to prayer - they bellow at me over the Internet - and yet most of the time it seems that this daily working out of life itself, in the context I find it, is the prayer, and it is all I can manage. There is nothing left over for formal prayer meetings or lots of words.

This silent struggle is ongoing, 24 hours a day, every day, and brings with it moments of hope and moments of despair, moments of joy and moments of pain - a constant movement through a range of thoughts, emotions, feelings. It provokes an ongoing conversation with the only One who can answer my questions.

The sustaining force behind it all is the hub on which the wheel turns. The One who is The Answer. The One who loves more than I ever can. The One who paid such a huge price to make the impossible possible. Truly in the midst of all this Jesus remains always the same. The Lord's presence constant and assuring. It is His peace that breaks through the tension and takes hold of my heart again to hold is secure and move me forward into the next hour, and the one after that. He alone defuses the tension and makes sense of it all.

The Father Image

2010-10-09T11:27:00.001+13:00

In the absence of earthly fathers, or in the midst of their dysfunction, I believe we’ve tried to present a God/Father figure who fills the gap.
This gap seems huge to us, but is actually too small for HIM, so then we reduce HIM to a size we can manage.
What seems helpful is actually doing people a disfavour as we all need a very big God, just as we long for a very big functional father.
E.g. “My dad’s bigger than your dad!” This is a kid in the playground's response to someone who leans on him, but shows a basic human picture of 'dad' and how he backs us up.

We long for the perfect father that no man can ever be, and yet we already have the perfect, able, powerful, heavenly Father (who Jesus came to introduce us to) who is more than someone who cuddles and reassures us – he can fight our battles, heal our wounds, gave and continues to give us true life. I wonder if we have been seduced by something in our comfort loving world that begins to dictate how a father should be, and is not at all what God had in mind for us?

We can be proud of HIM, depend on HIM, talk to HIM about anything at all, knowing that HE listens and loves and acts.

Our earthly fathers will only ever be a shadow and pale reflection of someone greater, but God allowed them to be those through whom He gave us life and we are always grateful to Him and them.

The thought I just had is that just maybe, it has been a ploy of the enemy to make us focus on the absence of fathers, believing that therefore we have no figure to relate to, when in fact that is not truth, as Jesus told us that if we have seen and know him then we have seen and known the Father.

I do think Celia Lashlie is on to something as she begins to draw the nation’s attention to the mothers. There has been such an emphasis on absent, dysfunctional, violent fathers, yet while everyone has focused on that and getting their kids out of harm’s way, the mothers have been lost in the middle and the importance of their role in the family overlooked. “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the nation” has a basis! Many of the strong deliverers of God’s people were also women, Mary was important, and it is interesting that in Revelation it is the woman waiting to give birth that the enemy is really after – I think we need to give attention to this image especially in this time. We may not have had great dads but maybe we had a wonderful mother, so God in all His wisdom found a way to balance out our lives. True family is not just about fathers, but about fathers and mothers working together to raise a family that represents something heavenly. God is big enough to represent fathers, mothers and children, and to be related to by each in their own way - He knows how this works, He made them!

A lot of years ago now, in the middle of the move of God we had in The River and elsewhere, I was lying on the floor in a big hall alone as everyone else had gone to lunch, but there was so much of His presence I didn’t want to move just to eat.
In that place, quiet with my eyes closed, I saw this huge cloud filled with fire coming towards me. As it came it constantly changed shape, and I could see that He was giving me a glimpse of the wonder of who He actually is. It billowed and swirled and sometimes had huge arms that reached out, and then changed again to something that encompassed everything I had ever known and then some! This is my picture of my heavenly Father – full of power, glory, fire, light, constant movement, and yet with arms that reach out to me in love – He will never fit the gap of an earthly father, but is able to become my all-in-all, my source, and I can find rest in His arms.

I hope your Dad is as big as my Dad!

The picture below is of something called a 'star nursery'!

CARRY THE DREAM

2010-09-14T12:06:00.001+12:00

I am weeping today over the pain of carrying a dream, on and on and on, every so often coming near to it's fulfillment and then seeing it snatched away, often by the hands of someone with wonderful intentions but very little knowledge of the depths that have been added to it over years of holding it before the Lord in my heart.

Each time I give it back to Him, knowing it must remain in His heart and hands, He gives it back, always having added a little more of His substance which enriches it and makes it even more precious ...... and of course even more painful the next time it is trampled!

The cross at the top of the page hangs on my wall. It is encrusted with both everyday objects and others that are more precious. You can look at it for a long time, constantly finding new treasures.

I guess that is what God is doing; adding, changing, enriching, and the only way to the final outcome is the cross. That place of beauty and death that we embrace because Jesus embraced it first and showed us the way through.

Recently I was reading an article by T. Austin-Sparks about Jesus speaking to the disciples before beginning his final journey to the cross. His wonderful words are a constant source of comfort and also of inspiration ... "I will build my Church" ... it remains with Him to do what He paid such a great price to accomplish - heaven help any man or woman who would think they can touch this and put their stamp on it, or profit from it.

As I read I was struck again by Jesus' statement, knowing that He was standing looking at what was before Him, and then even further out at what stood on the other side of the cross. It is probably the most powerful prophetic statement of all time!

Who and what did He look at with such powerful longing and desire, that it made the terrible path to and through the cross possible. Can we believe truly that it was you and I He made that journey for? Once again I am rendered speechless by such love, and also by the knowledge that each of us rises again from death to stand in the life He has purchased for us. As He looks at us and says "Mine" that same power that raised Jesus, and you and I, is released to pour out into all those precious people and dreams we hold before Him in our hearts.

Let's keep carrying the dreams, letting Him add to them the silver and gold that result from being refined again, and again, and again... so that ultimately everything shines with the light and glory that only He can impart, and He can wrap His loving arms around ..."My Church" .

REWARD OR REVIVAL?

2010-08-24T11:19:00.005+12:00

Recently I've been reading the story of Gideon again in Judges 8. What was accomplished through Gideon makes outstanding reading, and it seemed to me we could get caught up in the wonder of what God did and miss the important aspects that are about Gideon's humanity which is just like ours!

Gideon wasn't too good on blind faith, he wanted to see something to prove God was in this before he took the big step! However, God in all His greatness and grace, went along with Gideon and helped him to be part of what had already been accomplished in God's heart and purpose.

Most will know the battle story .. nothing short of spectacular, and accomplished with such a small band of warriors, hand picked for the job. When the battle was over, and Gideon was going back home, the true test came, and it even looks like he passed the test! The people wanted to make him their ruler, but he wisely said no and reminded them that the Lord alone would rule over them.

Then comes the point that leapt off the page at me. Having got it all right so far, suddenly Gideon asks for some of the gold from the enemy as a reward. He takes it home, turns it into a golden ephod (priestly garment), and everyone bows down and worships it. We are told in a little short sentence at the end of the story that this became a snare for Gideon and his family. Gideon didn't let the people raise him up as a ruler, but instead put something that looked spiritual before them (priestly even!) and that was his mistake. The victory was in fact God's and all the worship and gratitude belonged to him.

Here's my point. We live in a society that is totally geared towards success and achievement, and there are definitely expected rewards for both. In fact, if I am not paid what I think is a right reward for the effort I give, then I pack up and move on to somewhere I am appreciated more! (Or, as we've witnessed lately on TV, we call in the unions to come and shout at the problem with us.)

On the other hand, God's kingdom sees it a little differently, and He will even put us in places we are not appreciated at all, but will be accomplishing EXACTLY what He had in mind, something that will not be a temporary reward but counts for all eternity. If we leave because we do not feel appreciated or rewarded, then we have aborted that possibility.
So, we need to constantly remind ourselves that we do not need to reward ourselves for what God has done for us. God can bless us anywhere, anytime He wants to. When Gideon took the gold it really symbolises that he took some of the glory that belongs to God alone.

As many cry out and look for God to bring revival to nations suffering and dying, we need to remind ourselves that there will be no reward for our crying out ... it will come as we enter into a different mindset that gives everything to God, rather than constantly demanding from Him, or looking for reward rather than leaving Him the freedom to bless.

Great men in the past really got this principle, and I love the prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola, it rings true in my heart and spirit:

Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous:

Teach me to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labour and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that I do your will.

As we are able to make the Lord alone our reward, as He is, and always intended He should be, then we begin, hourly, daily, to give to Him thanks for what He has given us in that hour and day. Strength to accomplish the tasks of the day, favour to move ahead in the areas He calls us to walk, provision, peace, comfort, compassion, love .... He is constantly pouring out of His greatness and goodness, are we grateful?

With this mindset He is assured that He has all our love and friendship, people with hearts open for Him to move in any way He desires, who will not touch and mess with what is not theirs to own.

This, I believe, opens the way for God to move through a people wholly His own and bring what He most desires into their midst.

I want to end with another prayer of St. Ignatius - are we courageous enough to pray it?

Receive Lord, all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my whole will. You have given me all that I have, all that I am, and I surrender all to your divine will, that you dispose of me. Give me only your love and your grace. With this I am rich enough and I have no more to ask.

USING THE WING MIRRORS

2010-07-25T16:55:00.002+12:00

Today I realise that I am beginning a new part of the journey which always brings us deeper into our life in Christ. There is the first visible step of a very new path, something not seen or anticipated, but nevertheless incredibly important in what the future holds.

Yesterday I came to the realisation that we are often so focused on the road directly ahead of us, or checking out things way behind, that we miss what is coming up on either side - in this way we miss the opportunity of being turned into a new path that might not be quite as obvious!

The obvious is what we know is ahead, the things we desire, and the destination we are driving towards. Behind us are also things we know very well - achievements or errors it is all known ground.

Catching what is coming up on us, out of our control, means taking our eyes of the road ahead for a minute and not looking behind. It is a loosening of our control for an instant in time and yet a very necessary part of safely reaching our destination.

In terms of relationship also, it is our ability to see the wider issues, and the things slightly out of our normal focus, that help to build good relationships and take them deeper than the surface relating that so often suffices.

This feels like a season to be very aware of the peripheral things that take a little more effort to see, and are more likely to be glimpsed when we are not so focussed on driving forward at a great pace!

What a ramble this sounds, but I cannot over-emphasise the importance I feel of allowing ourselves time and space to get a look at the wider possibilities, maybe at things that had never caught our attention before, or had been hovering at the back of our awareness and need to be given opportunity to come to the forefront of our thinking.

There are things that will always be foundational and are good and true, and yet in this season we need to understand them in a deeper and different way. Let's not be afraid of the unknown but be willing to hold everything loosely so that we might eventually hold so much more.

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.' And he replied: 'Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.'

Minnie Louise-Haskins
Desert,'God Knows'.

Serenity of Reconciliation

2010-07-07T14:46:00.001+12:00

Over time I've had lots of thoughts, some shared on this page, of the massive importance of two verses in scripture. They keep coming back time and again, always taking me a little deeper into their impact on our lives. The first is from Matthew 5 v 9::

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Much of life seems to have been lessons on this verse, especially about what it means to be a peace 'maker' rather than 'keeper'. To simply 'keep the peace' often means that we constantly enable things to remain exactly the same, preventing the change that God is trying to work out around us. Much peace keeping is born in fear and insecurity.

Romans 8:19 contains this amazing statement about the sons of God (the peacemakers we've been talking about):

The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.

Can you imagine something so amazing and important that creation is holding it's breath, eagerly awaiting and expecting the sons of God to be revealed? This has to be something of incredible heavenly importance!

In a day when we see 'peace keeping' troops being sent into the troubled areas of our planet, the name alone indicates something vital is missing from the equation, and common sense tells us that in many instances it is a fairly futile effort.

Romans 8:14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Here in Romans we have an indication of the special attribute these sons (and daughters) have - something beyond the best intentions and good ideas of men, the 'wow' factor that brings change in ways that are beyond human endeavour.

It takes something more than our human wisdom and ability to accomplish peace 'making' - we need heavenly help, and the supernaturally natural leading and enabling of God's Spirit.

Galatians 3 v 26 is another verse that talks about the sons of God, and it indicates that all those who are believers in Jesus Christ are already sons of God, so we have to ask 'if this is so, why are we not seeing more action in this regard?'.

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,

Perhaps, as in so many areas, we have carried on trying to keep things peaceful, and even our efforts to make peace have not been by the leading of God's Spirit?

Last week I had a personal lesson in this regard. For the last few months I have found myself constantly thinking of someone whose friendship I valued but had become disconnected from. I kept thinking it would be good to make contact again, but kept putting it off.

Then, a situation arose where I knew it was most important to make that connection as the person needed encouragement, love and support. I made the call (at what I found was just the right time) and a meeting was arranged.

Through the entire meeting I found myself caught in a feeling of peaceful serenity such as I have never experienced before. I kept wondering what it was, and came away pondering this for days afterward. As I have pondered and prayed, I have come to the conclusion that what I felt was what the Holy Spirit pours out over true reconciliation when He has led us into it - it is like being held in a bubble of the most pure peace, totally undisturbed in any way, totally free from fear, anxiety, and filled instead with the love of God.

It costs us something to make peace. It has to be approached with prayer and a willingness to surrender to God's process. But I now understand why creation waits for this particular manifestation - if the whole earth were bathed in this serene peace it would be a totally different world.

QUIET CONFIDENCE

2010-05-25T12:40:00.001+12:00

Last week I reached a place where I felt the stretching in my life was almost more than I could manage, and was feeling very ragged indeed by the weekend. I have been seeking the Lord for ‘a word’ about which direction to take for the future, needing to know which path to walk and what would please Him, even if it wasn’t exactly how I would think it ought to be!!

Saturday night I had one of those dreams that you remember the details of clearly, but more importantly, the whole essence of the dream remains with you as if the Lord has found a way to impart something directly into your spirit in a unique way.

In the dream I made my way to a library because I was looking for ‘words’. I picked up a book with a bright flashy cover, but it turned out to be romantic nonsense and I put it back down again. Next I picked one up and the title was “Pau” – it was an old book, dusty blue, and well used, and I knew it was the one to take even though I could not translate the title!

I went through to another room and met a ‘friend’ – he was an olive skinned man and we sat to talk together. He looked me directly in the eyes and said “This is VERY STRONG, like nothing you have ever known before” – I could feel this immense faithfulness, trust, confidence, strength, love, all flowing right into me. I knew that what he had said was totally trustworthy and would be unchanging. We left the library and went our separate ways, very happy and confident in the strength of this friendship which I knew would last forever.

As I woke the scripture “in quietness and confidence will be your strength” was in my mind, and my spirit was filled with the strength and confidence that had been imparted in the dream. I am very sure that it was Jesus I was talking to in the library and he gave me the words my heart was seeking.

Yesterday I found what the word ‘pau’ means, and realised that there are many who feel like that right now and need to have this same impartation from the Lord.

pau [te] hau
be exhausted, out of breath, run out of steam, worn out, tired, used up. Ka tau mai ki ngā kura reo, e pau ana te hau, ka hoki atu e hikohiko katoa ana te ngākau (HM 4/2008 wh3).I arrived at the language learning gathering worn out and when I returned home I was enthusiastic. See also kua pau [te] hau.
pau
(stative) be consumed, exhausted, used up, finished, spent. He aituā, engari kua poropititia e ētahi o ngā hīnātore, ka pau i te ahi i taua wā (HP wh6).It was a disaster but it had been prophesied by some of the wise men that it would be destroyed by fire at that time.

I find it interesting that in the current journey it was a Maori word the Lord used to describe the way I was feeling and the place that many have come to – this in itself indicates to me that He is moving in a way that is indigenous and beginning to merge the separate identities into ‘one new man’. It is most encouraging.

CROSS TO WHERE?....AND WHY?

2010-05-12T14:06:00.003+12:00

This is quite a timely question for me.

For a number of years, when I have inquired of the Lord in certain areas, He has repeatedly led me to Isaiah 23:6 and at first I had no idea what He was trying to say to me!

Over the years I have kept digging around that verse. I have read it in context, understand it in that context, and even understand that in fact what was prophecied concerning Tyre did completely come to pass.
Having said that, He kept taking me there and I kept asking why, what are you trying to say to me?
It seemed to me as if He was speaking in riddles and I just could not get what it was about. There is a very encouraging reference in Isaiah 60:9 about the ships of Tarshish and their part in honoring the Lord, but it still was not the answer.

This week we've gone back there again! :) I felt to begin to look at it in the light of what is happening currently in the world today, and what I see happening around me personally - not that I hadn't done that in the past, but somehow this seemed to be the right time to go there.
In terms of the Middle East it's interesting that Tyre and Sidon (it's mother city) would be situated in Lebanon.

Right now the world systems of power, wealth and trading empires, are being seriously challenged. As are many of the areas that we would have stood in or with previously and not questioned a thing about them, including some of the church systems.
I feel the Lord is putting out the Isaiah 23:6 call to many in the Body of Christ today.
"Pass over to Tarshish (to seek safety as exiles)! Wail you inhabitants of the (Tyre) coast!" (Amp. bible)

Tarshish represents a safe place away from the devastation that is about to take place in Tyre which is to be completely laid waste because of its pride and the accumulated wealth of its traders and merchants. The passage in Isaiah says God will destroy the strongholds and fortresses of the areas of Tyre and Sidon.
It is evident that this gives a new freedom to expand without restraint and oppression (tribute or customs or duties) for the people of Tarshish.
In other words, what looked great would become terrible, and what was not attractive was going to be blessed and made good!

Prophetically I see the Lord saying to us:
Cross over! What looks good now is going to be demolished because it is man made and bringing wealth and glory to man. It's strength will be taken away as God destroys the strongholds and fortresses man has built, even though they have been admired since antiquity. Long-standing, if is not established by and in God, is no defence.
It is better to cross over and live amongst the oppressed (but faithful) in order to move away from what is currently standing under God's judgment.

It follows on into Isaiah 24 with the exciting statements in Isaiah 24:14 ..... 16
But these (who have escaped and remain) lift up their voices, they shout for the majesty of the Lord,they cry aloud from the Sea.
....
From the uttermost parts of the earth have we heard songs: Glory to the Righteous One (and to the people of Israel).

For those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand..... the times are rapidly changing.

MORE TRUST

2010-05-11T12:57:00.001+12:00

Today I am wondering when we might learn to trust God enough? That means enough to REALLY let Him be God!

There are so many events that come our way in which we feel a need to leap in and be or bring the answer. In some ways it is like us getting into the water with the drowning person and flapping about just like them ... instead of helping it just adds a bit more splash and noise.

When we truly trust Him to be ALL that He says He is, and able to do much much more than we could ever ask or imagine, maybe then we will also be able to step back and give Him a little more space around us and others to do that. :) We might also stop trying to work out our own salvation in so many instances.

This doesn't mean we stop talking to Him about what we see, how we feel, the pain in our hearts for others, and all the others things that arise, but we communicate in loving relationship with Him a whole lot more than we rush in and do stuff. We wait until we truly have His instruction and leading to do what He wants at any given time, rather than leaning on our own understanding!

Lately I have been left standing open-mouthed at His solutions to prayers I have prayed! Some things, where there appeared to be no way or answer, have suddenly turned around and the solution has stood right there in front of me - I didn't do anything but ask and the One who knows all the answers has really surprised me with His graciousness and speedy response.

What I see is that He truly loves us all, and His heart and intention are truly to work in the way that best for us all, pulling together impossible threads to weave the bigger picture that He always knew was there.

My prayer in this time is that He will enlarge our hearts and understanding with something of Himself that takes us out of ourselves, out of trying to be the answer, have the answer, know the answer. I pray He will lead us out into the unknown wonderful place of His great miracles and solutions ... not even as we think they should be but as He has always known they will be.

Bring it on! :)

TRUTH

2010-05-06T22:00:00.001+12:00

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8,9).

God's thoughts about things are very different from ours. We would often allow what God would never allow. He has an altogether different point of view about things. We judge in one way about things, and God judges in another. It is necessary for us to come to God's standpoint. Oh, we would say, there is no harm in such-and-such a thing. Oh, there is no wrong in that; look at so-and-so and so-and-so, and we take our standard, perhaps, from other people. We have known people to do that; point to some outstanding figure in the work of God, in whose life was a certain thing - that one has been taken as the model, to be copied, and so the thing has been taken on. Oh, there is no harm in it; look at so-and-so. And I have known lives and ministries to be ruined on that very excuse.

The question is: What does the Lord say about it? God says, Walk before Me! Not before any human model; not before any human standard; 'There is no harm in it; so-and-so does it; it is quite a common practice'. No, no! "Walk before Me", says the Lord. We have got to get this in the spirit, the inward man. It is deeper than our best moral standards. Otherwise there is no point in it being in the Bible at all, if our moral standards can rise to God's satisfaction - why must we be so handled and reconstituted? It is deeper than our intellect, than our reason. You cannot, by reason or intellect, arrive at God's standard at all. Not at all! Oh, do not think that by any method of reasoning, you are ever going to reach God's standard. You never will. Here, it is only by revelation of the Holy Spirit. Christ has got to be revealed in our hearts by the Spirit. There is no point in Jesus saying: "When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He shall guide you into all the truth", if we could get there by our own intelligence. Not at all. It must come by the revelation of Christ in our hearts, in the inward parts. This is something spiritual. "God is Spirit; they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth" - spirit and truth go together. Only what is spiritual, what is of God, is truth - only that!

From: Truth in The Inward Parts - T.Austin-Sparks.

BUILDING STONES

2010-04-23T13:34:00.001+12:00

Recently I had a few hours driving between cities to ponder questions that arise fairly regularly!

The beginning for me was once again "How and where do I fit?" On a previous little excursion into this area I began to consider whether in fact the church as we know it is the 'quarry' where the stones are shaped more than it is the house that God is building.

This process led to the understanding that I am constantly being shaped by God's hand and the circumstances He leads me through. That same hand will place me where His shape best fits, and only the master builder will ever know what that looks like.

As He places the stones in the wall of His House, not one of them is in a position to comment on the wall itself - whether it is straight, what it looks like, how big or small it is! They may have a sense of the shape of the most adjacent stones, but beyond that no knowledge of the final result.

All that we need to do is to make sure that we are truly aligned with the foundation stone.

So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretence, envy and hurtful talk.
Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God's pure kindness. Then you'll grow up mature and whole in God.
You've had a taste of God.

Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honour.
Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you'll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God.
Scriptures provide precedent: Look! I'm setting a stone in Zion, a cornerstone in the place of honour. Whoever trusts in this stone as a foundation will never have cause to regret it.
To you who trust him, he's a Stone to be proud of, but to those who refuse to trust him, The stone the workmen threw out is now the chief foundation stone.

For the untrusting it's . . . a stone to trip over, a boulder blocking the way. They trip and fall because they refuse to obey, just as predicted.
But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you-- from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.
(The Message) 1 Peter 2

Have we been carrying too heavy a load, maybe trying to shape ourselves and in the process getting a little out of shape and out of sorts under the pressure of it all?

It is wonderful to be released to know the truth

Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.

OUT OF THE DESERT

2010-03-28T17:50:00.001+13:00

Who is this coming up from the desert leaning on her lover?

Song of Songs 8:5

What an amazing statement. A picture of someone who has just spent time in a place of arid expanses of nothing but sand, and yet here she comes, not alone, but supported by the one who loves her!

Do we look at these dry and difficult places in our lives as the glorious opportunity given us to find a greater companionship and depth of relationship with the One who gives us life?

God leads us into the desert to invest more of His life into us, to build greater depths of love and compassion, and fill us with as much of Him as we can contain.

Those He has used greatly in history all did 'desert time' - Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Jesus, John the Baptist, Paul, just to name a few! He took them away from all distractions just to have quality time with those He loved, and build and make them ready for the work they were to do for Him.

If every member of His Body in this earth was willing to go there with Him, welcoming the invitation instead of resisting it, they would be emerging from that place on His arm, filled to overflowing with all the good things He has to give them.

Can we imagine what it would be like if we were all filled with this immeasurable treasure - the Bride would be glowing and radiant as all of her Lover's treasures spilled out of her into this world!

Oh what a glorious thought and picture that is!

CHOICES - RIGHT OR LEFT?

2010-03-08T17:21:00.001+13:00

All of Matthew 25 is talking about people who wisely used what they had been given and lived in a constant state of readiness for whatever God might do, and those who did not bother to do this.

The wise people used the gifts they had been given, constantly desiring to see them increased, while the foolish hid away the little they had and did nothing with it.

All this leading up to Jesus talking about the glorious moment when He would again set foot upon this earth and sort out the wise from the foolish.

"When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne.Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation.
And here's why:

I was hungry and you fed me,

I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,

I was homeless and you gave me a room,

I was shivering and you gave me clothes,

I was sick and you stopped to visit,

I was in prison and you came to me.'

"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink?
And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?'
Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me--you did it to me.' (Matthew 25 in The Message)

In this passage the separation appears to have been made on the grounds of how we treat each other (love your neighbour as yourself) and in so doing we show love to the One who created each one, so the commandment that Jesus left us with is fulfilled

This is not hard to do! Each hour of each day there are choices placed before each of us, and the choice we make will ultimately determine our eternal future.

Who do you see hungry today ... and what are they hungry for?

Who do you see thirsty today ,,, and what are they thirsting for?

Who do you see without a home ... and what sort of room do they need?

Who do you see shivering ... what sort of clothing do they need?

Who do you see sick ... do you have even a minute to stop and visit?

Who do you known who is imprisoned ...what can you take when you visit?

Do we want to know Jesus better? When we do just one of these things it is doing it to Him, surely as we do these things we will find Him there with us, and little by little we will learn of His heart, His mind, His incredible love.

We have choices to make ... will we be seated on His right or His left?

OUR TRUE CALL

2010-02-21T13:32:00.001+13:00

"The best that I can hope is that this has just opened a window, and that as you look through it you are seeing one thing - how superior is Jesus Christ to all else!" - T. Austin-Sparks

Open Windows
Excerpts from the writings of T. Austin-Sparks

To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God... (2 Corinthians 2:16,17).

The Lord has not called upon us to form churches. That is not our business. Would to God men had recognised the fact! A very different situation would obtain today from what exists, if that had been recognised. It is the Lord Who expands His Church, Who governs its growth. What we have to do is to live in the place of His appointment in the power of His resurrection. If, in the midst of others, the Lord can get but two of His children, in whom His Life is full and free, to live on the basis of that Life, and not to seek to gather others to themselves or to get them to congregate together on the basis of their acceptance of certain truths or teaching, but simply to witness to what Christ means and is to them, then He has an open way...

The Church is not increased by your going and taking a building and trying to get people to come to it, and to your meetings, and then forming them, by a church roll, into a local church. That is not the way. Growth is by Life, and this, to begin with, may be by the entering into Life of but one soul, and then after a long waiting time of another; or it may be more rapid. But the point is that it is increase because of Life. That is the growth of the Church. For the growth of His Church, the Lord must have Life channels, Life centres. I believe that, given a Life centre, sooner or later one of two things will happen, that it will be abundantly manifest that Christ is fully and finally rejected there, or else there will be an adding, a growth. There is tremendous power in Life, and the Life of the Lord either kills or quickens. It depends on the attitude taken toward it. He is a savour of Life unto Life, or of death unto death. Things can never remain neutral. What the Lord needs is Life centres.

From:The Risen Lord and the Things Which Cannot be Shaken

Wonderful Women

2010-02-04T14:33:00.003+13:00

I saw them again today ... these wonderful women. Once again I came away inspired and encouraged by seeing the strength of others. Over long months of visits to various cancer treatment wards etc. they have continued to impact and impress me.

What do I see that is so powerful?

I see wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and ALL of them are displaying the same quiet courage and grace. Each one in her own way, some in treatment, others supporting, but steady as rocks and pressing on with painful and difficult journeys with a quiet fortitude.

I sit in waiting rooms and wards, watching them share a smile, a joke, a touch ... watching them giving care and comfort in the quietest way. I see great displays of selflessness, love in the hard places, strength that others lean on in their journeys.

There is always a little wonder about what their story might be.

The Pacific Island woman and all her grown children (some such big boys that they take up two seats each), sitting quietly beside the man of the household, just being with him, never leaving his side, doing the journey together.

The beautiful woman in a long pink scarf that trails like a wedding train down her back, covering her hairless head with soft beauty. She smiles and walks alongside her husband and son, carrying the evidence of the baby soon to come with quiet dignity ... how graciously she deals with what life has dealt her.

The bright little single woman who has come alone. Trendy little hat on her head, softly spoken, and a twinkle in her eye that she shares with those around her, making them smile too.

The nurses, who stare death in the face every day, and yet give away warmth, humour, love and care out of a seemingly bottomless capacity to make life easier for those they have chosen to help.

It has been some weeks now since I felt I wanted to talk about the remarkable people I have been blessed to observe, sometimes talk silently to God about, always encouraged to feel proud to be one of their number. They will never know how they have touched my life by simply being themselves and living their lives ... makes you wonder doesn't it ... what do people see in us, those we don’t even know are watching, and what silent impact do we have:?

LOVE/LIFE/LONGING. PLANTING & MANTLING.

2009-12-31T09:43:00.008+13:00

It was out of LOVE that God gave to us what He most LOVED in order that we might have LIFE.

LONGING : He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty. Luke 1:53 NIV

This is a time of recognising the LONGING God allows - the sense of emptiness and not being complete and of being unable to remedy this ourselves.

There is an ever louder cry in the hearts of many, a cry for the unknown, a cry for the One their hearts know but cannot see. The Holy Spirit begins to increase the desire that causes us to cry out with Him "Come" - a cry that arises out of our increased LONGING. The closer we move towards the marriage the more intense the cry of the bride's heart will become. It is intensified by His nearness.

'As a bridegroom who puts on a tuxedo and a bride a jewelled tiara. For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms, so the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom and puts praise on display before the nations.' Isaiah 61 (The Message).

PLANTING HIS CHOSEN

Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit continues to anoint and send God's people to preach good news, heal the heartbroken, announce the year of God's grace, comfort those who mourn.

He's growing 'Oaks of Righteousness through whom His life flows to display His glory. It is most certainly time to begin to 'build a new city out of the ruins, wreckage and rubble' of what is currently falling down.

This passage in Isaiah is highlighted for the coming year as we are not to focus on what no longer works,but search for what survives and use it to build as God instructs. This is the time to look for what remains, all that each of us can come and place before His throne.

'Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness" planted by God to display His glory. They'll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage. They'll start over on the ruined cities, take the rubble left behind and make it new." Isaiah 61 (The Message)

"They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will RENEW the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations."

It will be the work of the "Oaks of Righteousness", those prepared and placed by the Lord, to allow Him to bring new life to everything around them, we can expect to see this in the ruined and devastated places. This will be a work of renewal/revival that will exceed expectations and break down current mind sets on what 'revival' looks like.

You will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God - all of this taking place for the display of HIS splendour.

MANTLING

There will be a specific mantling on those God chooses and places. It is light, protective and seamless. It wraps them in His comfort and protection. There is great strength inside this beautifully light garment.

LEADING & POWER

It is important to know that those carrying this mantle will be lead and directed by the Lord where to go - it will not be for man to say when and where. The going will be "in Him" and in His mantle. It feels very like living in Psalm 91, and there will be an outworking of His mighty power which will be as described in Isaiah 63 - to gain for himself everlasting renown ... to make for Himself a glorious name.

FOR 2010

It will take a people called, prepared, and surrendered to God's will, to stand with Him in the dark places and see Him pour out His light. Many are invited but few are chosen. Matthew 22:14 NIV

There are many willing to go and do good works, but it is another thing to be planted by the Lord for the display of His splendour. These are those who will indeed love Him more than their own lives, and who are willing to trust Him in their own great weakness and vulnerability. These will be 'sent' in order to gather into His Kingdom.

I see these mantled ones walking into position and standing wrapped in all He has given them, clothed in soft blue light. They are positioned by, and for, Him. He has cleared the space in which they stand displaying His goodness and His power.

I see people gathering, looking at this light, wondering at it, timid and afraid to approach. Then I see small figures (children?) and they dart in and tug at the hem of the mantle - it fills their hands and mouths like candy floss. Many begin to come and gather and eat and it is a constant supply - the mantle maintains its shape and size no matter how much is taken.

I feel the enormous love this mantle contains and allows to pour through it. This love attracts the lost and hungry and repels darkness.

Isaiah 65 says in The Message "For my people will be a long-lived as trees, my chosen ones will have satisfaction in their work. They wont work and have nothing come of it, they wont have children snatched out from under them. For they themselves are plantings blessed by God, with their children and grandchildren likewise God-blessed. Before they call out I'll answer, before they've finished speaking, I'll have heard."

I feel the Lord is saying: "I want you to hear that I am near, and to know that I am active in areas as yet unseen. Remember that I hold the future in My hands and remain sovereign. The living must be in Me in the days ahead, to live by the ways of the world will be very unsafe, even destructive. There are so many things known only to Me, so do not rely on the words and wisdom of men.

Isaiah 64 (NIV) Since ancient times no-one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways.

The key is to wait on the Lord, to become entwined in Him and His purposes. It is the way to allowing Him to develop and to plant those He chooses where He chooses. There will be a remarkable flow of His love, power and strength to those who allow Him to place them according to His purposes.

GETTING WHERE?

2009-12-04T08:59:00.002+13:00

One of the greatest minds that the Christian family has ever produced is Thomas Aquinas. Near the end of his life, the great theologian had a revelation of Jesus Christ. In light of that revelation, Aquinas said, “All that I have written seems to me like straw compared to what has now been revealed to me.”

"Most people plot and plan themselves into mediocrity, while now and again somebody forgets himself into greatness." ~ E. Stanley Jones

We need each other and most of all we need Jesus - it was God's idea that we be family and He the Father, and to that end He gave His very own Son to lead us into that incredible relationship.

Like all families we, the Body of Christ, seem to be a dysfunctional one in various areas, however we have a Father who cares and works to bring us ever closer to each other and to Himself.

It seems that Christmas time is simply a time to remember family. We know that it has become a commercial monster and who knows what actual day Jesus Christ was born in the stable? However, we do have a day when we are reminded that family is important to our God, and that His way of doing family is summed up in love and giving of oneself.

The revelation of Jesus Christ undid all that Thomas Aquinas had considered important, and that continues to happen to men, women and children today. We are not in need of recognition, achievement, or success, we are greatly in need of Jesus Christ, and of His Life being formed in us, transforming us into the family He is longing to see joined in love and unity - His heart is just like ours!

What is the way there?' Jesus told us that we should 'esteem others more highly than ourselves' and with that in mind I am going to repeat the quote above:

"Most people plot and plan themselves into mediocrity, while now and again somebody forgets himself into greatness." ~ E. Stanley Jones

Is it only me?

2009-11-16T22:07:00.002+13:00

Is it only me ... never quite settled, living with a sense of quiet disturbance as a constant?

Yes, I know and also reside in the peace that Jesus give me, but there is a stirred up thing inside of me that never actually goes away.

It is as if I look constantly back and forth over our nation, always watching, always alert for a movement or a glimpse of something more than we have seen before.

There is a lot of movement, a lot of activity, but I frankly don't see anything out there that excites me with it's freshness and a sense of 'new and now'. I see a lot of bringing back what had come and gone, and none of that is wrong, but surely there is a new day, a new level, something that is a completely fresh release out of heaven?

Some wise person said that we cant do the same old thing and expect a new result, but in many areas I just see the same things, over and over again. Maybe they are altered ever so slightly, given a new name, advertised in a different way, but they still have that sense that we have been this way before.

What if we all stood still for a second and just waited? What if we waited long enough for all the dust we've stirred up to settle so that we could see, hear and feel with greater clarity?

Do we have the courage to stand still and quiet, even if it appears we are doing nothing, achieving nothing at all, in order that God could come and do something that was incredible, amazing, and what He has in mind for this precise moment in time.

As I watch back and forth I have a sense of the sand running swiftly through the hour glass, slipping through our fingers and lost forever.

What if there is something entirely Kiwi? What if New Zealand is the one place on earth where something that is utterly, completely, and excitingly God can take place? What if we are so busy being impressed, excited and taken up with the things He is doing in other places that we completely miss what it was He wanted to do here?

To be honest I've had nearly all I can take of man's ideas, advertising and activity. Still waiting to see what God can do with a couple of completely committed Kiwis and a piece of number 8 fencing wire!

Borrowed Wisdom

2009-10-21T16:52:00.001+13:00

This arrived in my inbox recently - it is way too good to keep to myself and helps us all hold perspective in testing times. :)

Enlargement through Perplexity
The facts are that there is often a larger service through a certain curtailment, a fuller life through a deeper death, a richer gain by a keener loss; and we have to look for the impact of the operation of God in us in a realm where the eye of man cannot trace....
Supposing the deepest purposes of God can only be realized by His hiding from our flesh all that that flesh craves for its life, and – more – supposing His work in us, whereby triumphant faith and obedience reach their highest form, necessitates His concealing Himself and accepting the risk of being considered to have been unfaithful?
There is no doubt that most of those who have been called into some of the most vital expressions of “the eternal purpose” have been trained in the school of apparent Divine contradiction, delay, withdrawal, and darkness.

T. Austin-Sparks

HEAVEN'S FLOW

2009-09-14T17:24:00.001+12:00

Recently, while sitting quietly and praying, I had a vision/pictures of Jesus coming and holding me as I wept, as you would a child, not speaking or doing anything, just being there.

Then, as He held me, His power was pouring out across the heavens like a meteor moving at powerful speed. I felt "this is happening now".

Following this I saw myself sitting on a stone wall beside Him looking outwards towards the horizon. I could see the flow of power like a transparent, liquid force, like a moving picture as it moved from earth up into the heavens. A powerful creative force, never ceasing. The words "all creation on the move" came to my mind.

As this force touched heaven it split into streams that flowed out in all directions over the earth. It looked like a huge fountain of sparkling power. Then I heard the words "Do not try to name this, you do not know it at all."

I saw the streams flow into rivers and make them clean; over desert sands and give them life; through forests regenerating growth; and coral reefs living, vibrant and colourful again.

This is God, creation is His, He is coming to give life and newness to all things. In the midst of this flow people are clothed and healed, the hungry are receiving food, the armies of evil are driven back.

The question arose: "Will we believe the report of God or man?" His life is undiminished and is flowing freely throughout the earth, but most eyes don't see it.

I hear the bombardment of human voices and sounds that prevent ears from hearing. I see the flashing of man-made images that captivate eyes and keep them from heaven's vision. I see hearts assaulted and wounded by human emotions and actions so that they cannot feel the love of God.

We must break into heaven's flow, it is for NOW, for today, available and free.

For those who pray - cry out that there would be a breaking of these chains that hold and bind, of blindness and deafness that has become comfortable - let it become uncomfortable so that the BREAK OUT would come.

I hear the call "Break out, break out, break out ... now .... today ... before it is too late."

It is a dry cloud of man-made dust that keeps us from heaven's flow ... "Break out!"

As I sit watching, all the streams have become one great sea and there are people swimming, and comfortable, in this deep calm water. They are clean and strong, in need of nothing, and able to breathe above or below the water.

Hab 2:14 Meanwhile the earth fills up with awareness of GOD's glory as the waters cover the sea. (The Message)

WISDOM

2009-08-20T17:39:00.001+12:00

I know I have posted this before, but today it impacted me again, and so here is the cry of wisdom in the face of religion:

Give me the truths which are veiled by
the doctrines and articles of faith,
which are masked by the pious words
of sermons and books.
Let my eyes penetrate the veil
and tear off the mask,
that I can see your truth face to face.

St. John of the Cross

TUMBLING IN THE WAVE

2009-08-01T12:52:00.008+12:00

There are many in this time who feel caught up in things beyond their understanding and control - the feeling is like being caught in a large wave on a surf beach, and tumbled - over and over and over - until finally you find yourself in the shallow water not knowing which way is up, but really glad to be out of it and able to breathe!

The feeling is so intense in the moment that one is thrown into survival mode, nothing to hold on to, no sense of direction, no way out of this - and then suddenly there is sand, light, sun, the joy of being deposited on the firm sand and feeling the water run away from you, back down the beach!

Many are finding their walk with God a bit like that and wondering why. For so long it was 'steady as you go' and even though there were a few tests along the way, it wasn't too hard to find a way through them and then back to a sense of steady forward movement again! But in this moment that sense of steadiness is missing - except that HE remains steady and we can feel that, even though we are tumbling.

As I've prayed about this there has been a strong sense of the Lord's encouragement. A sense that we are caught up in, and by, what is coming and it is no longer optional or avoidable, it has been put in motion by hands bigger than ours.

I sense HIs reassurance that He does indeed hold the future in His hands, that He holds us in His hands, and the two are closely entwined. In this place we do not need to be afraid of what we dont understand because we know Him and our lives are lived in the knowledge and love of Him. We are safe.

I hear Him saying that we are to trust Him for an outcome that will surprise and bless us. To encourage me in this He led me to Ephesians 4:16:

From Him the whole Body, joined and held together by every supporting

ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

The Message Bible puts it this way:

Ephesians 4:15 & 16
God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love--like Christ in everything.

We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do.
He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through

us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

So here we find ourselves still connected, In fact we are important connectors. We may not be able to see the shape of the rest of the Body or understand all it's working parts, but we all joined and held together, constantly building up in more and more love, as each of us is doing the part that has been assigned to us. What a marvellous thought!

We find in The Message that all we have to do is follow the leader and keep our eyes on Him.

He supplies all we will ever need.

He knows the way and keeps us in step with each other.

His breath and blood flow through us nourishing us in spirit, soul and body.

We continue to grow up - healthy in God, robust in love.

This tumbling around isnt so bad after all, in fact I am beginning to enjoy it. See you on the beach!

SPECIAL DAYS

2009-07-21T14:06:00.002+12:00

My heart is full today, it is more special than most, because of the people I have sat, talked, and shared life with.

The wonder of honesty and transparency, even in hard times, never leaves me. I am left wondering 'is this how Jesus felt' when I have had the privilege of listening to words and hearts, stories the world will never hear, and praising God for the resilience of these precious ones He created.

No wonder He hung out with those that the rest of society would look down on. In the place where there is no energy for anything but getting through today, in the place where people say it like it is and are without all the trappings that build barriers between us in 'polite society', there is a richness of relationship to be found.

I am humbled by the trust, convicted by the words, broken by the pain and cruelty some encounter, and made a better person just because I have had this wonderful opportunity.

When He called me to work in the wider 'community' I had no place to start and no idea how or what to do. But the One who calls us knows, and He is the One who opens doors, presents opportunities that don't even look like opportunities at the time. All we have to do is follow Him, right outside the walls, out of the comfort zone, into places we have feared and need to learn to trust Him with.

How amazing it is to find ourselves truly a work in progress, and to walk alongside others in whom the same work is taking place. We become filled with light and with life, our tears flow easily, and the laughter is genuine joy.

How grateful I am for this opportunity to live my life out of the One who created and understands all life. It is a constant humbling privilege to watch as He touches a heart, lifts a head, sows hope afresh.

How blessed I am in this place that I, and others, do not truly understand. Living outside the walls of the establishment, and yet finding myself immersed in all that is real and at times challenging, and, best of all, finding that He lives here too - smiling on us, pouring out His unfathomable love and strength, pursuing the one, always the one ... that He loves.

DEFINITION

2009-06-22T13:23:00.001+12:00

This morning I woke up with one of those thoughts that God gives when He begins to show us the contrast between where we are, what we believe, and what is actually true - I love it when He does that! :)

Here is the thought!

We are not created to live a life that is 'un' natural but one that is 'super' natural. However, the word is the same "natural" but with different prefixes.

God created all of life, and us, to live our lives in the natural way of His creation. He has also given the gifts of Jesus and the Holy Spirit to enable us with heavenly power that functions over and above and around the natural life, enhancing and enabling it to be more effective.

Here is the question:

Do we need to be fully natural before we can be supernatural? Should we be ask God to make us fully in the natural ALL that He created us to be. Then, offering Him the fullness and completeness of what He created, let Him add what He has given to that fully natural life?

In this day and age, is Christianity by and large presenting an unnatural picture to the world, when in fact it should be showing a natural picture, a natural life, enhanced by all that God decides and desires to add to it?

Many of the people who are actually making a difference in this world live very naturally indeed, but the results of their living that way in its fullness show a supernatural picture.

Challenging thoughts.

Found a quote I love again today as well ... it kind of goes with all of this:

I find it most intriguing to contemplate the fact that while men are considering what place to give Jesus Christ in history, He has already decided what place to give them in eternity.

Leonard Ravenhill

Signposts

2009-06-05T11:39:00.001+12:00

A few weeks ago (in mid May) we had an unusual weather event here in New Zealand.

In a small portion of the Bay of Plenty (east coast of the North Island) there was a hail storm that went on for an unprecedented time. The end result was that it looked like 10 centimetres of snow - even all over the sand dunes and the beach - people were snowboarding in the sand dunes at a surf beach!! So great was the weight of this hail that a portion of roof collapsed in a local mall.

When I visited this area at the end of that week I asked the Lord what was going on as it was so unusual and this was the answer.

I saw a picture of a signpost like the one above, but it had yellow signs pointing up and down the coast, and then one other that pointed directly out to sea.

I believe the Lord was saying that this was the first of a number of signs that would come with unusual weather, and each place this happened He was setting up a signpost, and it would become a gathering place for His people.

He reminded me that the original settlers (both Maori and English) came to New Zealand across the sea. He would now begin gathering people to send back across the sea to other nations.

He called for New Zealanders to look at how they spoke of, and treated, the more recent immigrants from overseas. These had also been brought here because He desired them to learn of Him and be prepared to be sent back into their own nations.

I was reminded of the very first time the Lord spoke to me about this nation in 1988 (almost exactly 21 years ago when such speaking was very new to me) and have posted that below - it speaks of unusual events in nature that He would use to get the attention of this nation. (Directly after hearing this, there was an earthquake and small tidal wave in Fiordland.)

NEW ZEALAND – URGENT CALL

31 May 1988

I would speak to you this day my daughter of what is to befall this nation, and I would encourage you to have no fear for those I love and who serve Me and are in My care. But I warn those who have turned their backs on Me and have given themselves over to the evils of this world. I would shake them out of their complacence and into a place where they might be harvested like wheat. I would show them the shallowness of the gods they have chosen to believe in and worship, and the work of My hands will be before them and they will cry out to Me in their isolation and fear.

I made this country a pure gem of great beauty, and yet they have defiled it and try to turn from Me to worship the spirits of darkness. Be warned you who turn to the old Gods that you are breaking My commandments and that I am a jealous God.

I will send against this nation an onslaught of unnatural occurrences, and it will be seen that they are out of the normal sequence of nature and will turn men’s hearts as they look and wonder at what is happening. There will be suffering and cries of anguish as they seek for help, and as their cries fall on the emptiness of the worldly things they have worshipped they must turn to Me. I would have you pray that these ungodly people, yes even those in the Government of the land, will turn to Me, the Almighty God.

My people must unite in their love and praise, for as they worship Me so shall they break through the darkness that covers this land and let My light shine forth. The heaviness shall be lifted and the nation set free to stand before the world as an example of brotherly love in Me. They shall show forth beauty and freedom at its best when the darkness and sin are overcome.

I am calling you to prayer now for this nation – gather in twos and threes and let your voices be heard in the heavenly realms that you may save and free your land.

The scriptures given to read in relation to the above were as follows:

Revelation 12:4

Psalm 140:8

John 17:2

TURNING ON THE LIGHTS

2009-04-14T15:48:00.001+12:00

Yesterday as I was spending time with the Lord, I asked about the steps forward, anything that He would show as we move ahead into what we cannot see. He spoke something very personal to me, and then I could see the glow of very bright lights and felt He said:

“I am going to turn the lights on now, much of what I have allowed to be hidden will now be illuminated.
Many who have been listening to me in the darkness will find themselves in the places I have been preparing them for.
I do not plough forever and the seeds I plant must germinate and bear fruit.
Look for the growth and the fruit that will most surely come forth at this time.
Don’t be afraid of those who oppose this, my work draws opposition.
Continue in the way I direct you, knowing I am where I send you and walking with you.
Believe what I say. You have waited and watched. You have watched many plot their own course and achieve their goals.
This is different. It is a greater thing that I will do in this time, for men have truly not conceived what I am about to do and will be astonished.
No, this is not about judgement, it is about gathering, bringing to Myself what I have created – gathering hearts, minds, lives, into relationship with me.
What you will see now is for eternity, hold on to that knowledge and apply it to all you see.
There will be more, more than you have sought and asked me for.”

These are the scriptures that followed:
Philippians 3:6
Acts 16:10
John 15:14
I believe these scriptures contain key elements for our journey forward.

Then I felt to read in the Jewish New Testament translation John 14:27 and it was as if Jesus was speaking to us right now: (you know it’s something I have preached over and over)
“What I am leaving with you is shalom – I am giving you my shalom. I don’t give the way the world gives. Don’t let yourselves be upset or frightened.”
Ahead of this in v.25 He speaks of the Ruarch HaKodesh who will come. So to this peace the Father added the gift of His Spirit. We have all we need to go forward.

The Way Home

2009-03-29T13:43:00.001+13:00

Where do we go when the grace runs out,

when we feel alone, and there's no way out?

What do we do when we need to cry

but it's not yet time and our eyes stay dry?

What is the answer, where is the way,

how can we find strength to go through today?

There is a place that is quiet and clear,

a place where the peace run deep and near,

there is a place that is free of strife

a place to take a break from the rest of life.

How do we go there, and what is the way,

is there a map, do we have to pay?

The price was paid a long time ago

and there is nothing to do but to go,

into the deep, abiding love, of the One

who made us, and gave us His Son.

No cry for help goes unheard, by the

Father who cares and gave us His Word.

This is no fallible earthly man, who in his

humanity falls time and again,

No, this is the One who is always the same,

quietly waiting a call on His Name.

"Father help me" awakens His heart

and He moves in great power to give a new start.

HEART CRY

2009-03-22T09:11:00.001+13:00

St. John of the Cross

Incoming Tide ...

2009-03-08T16:09:00.001+13:00

This week I had another picture of the tide that has turned. I could see the small waves rippling in over the sand, just as we see on our beaches that do not drop away into deep water, but rather are wide and spread out, the water taking a longer time to come in and out over the expanse of sand.

There was someone lying there flat on their back in the sand, unaware of the incoming tide, and resting on the warm sand. (I believe the person I saw represented many.)

As the incoming water became deeper, the person was disturbed but continued to lie there, even as the water began to cover them causing them to cough and splutter as it ran over their face.

Then, suddenly the water was deep enough to lift them from the sand, and they turned over and began to swim with the flow of the tide.

I felt this was a picture of where we are with the shift right now. Those who have been watchful and prepared are feeling the freshness and joy of the greater presence of the Lord.

However, those who had lain down and given up waiting are being overtaken by the tide which has turned and is coming in. It is very uncomfortable for them as they are over-run by the unexpected, and they are restless and feel as though they are thrashing around in unknown territory.

The kindness of God is that He is not put off by this and continues to build His love and presence around each one, so that in His timing they will understand the strength and fullness of that love and turn and begin to move forward with Him again.

WORTH CONSIDERING!

2009-02-20T11:40:00.001+13:00

Fast Facts :

70 percent of the 1.3 billion poor are women.

Two-thirds of illiterate adults are women and two-thirds of children not in school are girls.

60 million women are "missing" because of gender-based violence.

Every year an estimated 4 million women and girls are bought and sold worldwide.

Today, 7,000 women and girls will contract HIV.

While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight; while children go hungry, as they do now I’ll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight - I’ll fight to the very end!
William Booth

REVERSING THE ORDER

2009-02-13T17:00:00.001+13:00

My heart is painfully aware today of how often we, in our human endeavours, get things back to front. We reverse the order of things and then begin to believe that the result is wrong because the process doesn't work! What if we have got the process the wrong way round?

Those who know me will know at this point I'm about to have a bit of a rant about something! :) But when you have a total passion in your life, something that goes beyond good ideas and intellectual understanding, it is hard to remain silent in the face of these reverses. How I long to see the right order that I KNOW will bring spectacular results.

We seem to have lost the understanding that prayer is not the add-on to ensure our good intentions bear fruit. It is not the 'lucky rabbit's foot' kind of insurance that makes everything ok once we have embarked on our venture, neither is it a work that will pick up and make Godly that which has been birthed out of the heart of man.

This kind of thinking totally reverses all that is good and fruit-bearing, and is born out of our 'do it now/instant fix or success' mentality.

The greatest of endeavours that continue to give testimony today of what can be achieved and leave lasting results, have been birthed in prayer, carried and built in prayer, had the way for them broken open in prayer, and finally carried forward to be outworked and bear great fruit.

The question seems to be, what are we willing to invest? Surely we are going to see results that are proportionate to the time invested into foundations that cannot immediately be seen; into making a way that is not immediately apparent; into a greater, higher, wider good than is accomplished by good ideas and quick fixes?

There is an exciting challenge to us by E.M. Bounds in "Purpose in Prayer" "... men have, in the past, changed the whole force of affairs, revolutionised character and country by prayer. And such achievements are still possible to us. The power is only wanting to be used. Prayer is but the expression of faith."

This great prayer and writer encourages us with the statement that "Great things for God are done by great prayers. He who prays much, studies much, loves much, works much, does much for God and humanity."

Way beyond our current focus on 'social justice' there is a great and just God waiting to show his strength in response to those who turn their hearts towards Him in prayer.

LOVING THE SOUTH

2009-02-03T14:21:00.001+13:00

For those who are weary of listening to all the negative stuff the media pumps out about South Auckland, this weekend there's a chance to contribute to, and experience, something different. It's called City Lights and is an opportunity to make a positive statement for a change!

This is my fourth year of involvement and it has brought huge change into my life. I've been stretched to the limit, been majorly challenged in how I interact with and view other areas of our city and its people, and it's given me the chance to meet some of the most amazing people!

What the media doesn't often show us is the raw courage and determination of people who are overcoming great odds and moving forward, making new lives for themselves and their children. There is little mention of people living everyday lives and making a good contribution in their part of the city to its growth and advancement.

Now, wouldn't you want to be someone who did something to help that? Wouldn't you want to stretch our your hand and open your heart to someone and help that process? Wouldn't you want to go home with a smile on your face knowing that you had actually received 100% more than you ever gave - and learnt some pretty amazing things in the process?

If that speaks to you, there is a chance to join people from right across this city who get together as friends to show what love in action really means. Follow the link and find out all about it. Go on, get yourself a challenge that changes something in this beautiful land of ours - what a great way to spend Waitangi weekend.

MARI'S GOOD NEWS :)

2009-01-29T08:23:00.001+13:00

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

2009-01-25T13:17:00.001+13:00

".....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

2009-01-10T20:22:00.001+13:00

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

2009-01-01T13:17:00.001+13:00

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.

THE TURNING TIDE

2008-12-30T09:46:00.001+13:00

Today I have a feeling of floating, without oars or rudder, and yet the boat is being turned and moved. It is disconcerting, but quietly safe.

Psalm 119:50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

The picture I see is of a boat swinging on its moorings because the tide has turned - the tide is coming in!

The boat is tied to a strong mooring post, but the incoming tide is causing it to turn so that the bow is facing into the flow of water.

Be positioned. Be prepared.

The mooring doesn't move, it is solid and secure, but EVERYTHING around it does.

I feel the need to be strongly and securely tired to the mooring post, but with enough rope to give flexibility of movement.

The incoming tide is a rush of clean water from the deep ocean which will wash and refresh those in it's path. It will refresh dreams, visions, words spoken, and bring new life to them for this season.

And so this is Christmas .....

2008-12-12T18:42:00.001+13:00

Well, here it is again! That time that is named after Christ and when everyone rushes around doing things they wouldn't think of at any other time of the year.

Suddenly I have to communicate with all the people who haven't heard from me for a whole year - I love that we stay in touch, but why don't I do it at other times to show that I really do care ... all the time.

Suddenly I find myself fighting my way through hoards of frenzied shoppers who all look stressed and tired, to buy presents for those who buy presents for me - in the process I blow the budget, and then stress out about how to find bargains for those extra gifts for the people I forgot would buy gifts for me.!

I have stayed up half the night waiting for the Christmas cakes to bake, because I didn't get organised enough to do them earlier, and then I have got up early the next day to be out before the other stressed shoppers to fill the cupboards with food, etc. etc.

So, here we are nearing Christmas and I am sitting here wondering what on God's earth does HE think about all this?

If I sound cynical, that is not the intention ... but I do want to make myself think about what I am doing, why I am doing it, and why on earth would I want to feel this tired without very good reason. :)

I remember that God took a man and a woman on a journey with a donkey (not your fastest means of transport) and brought them finally to a destination without having arranged any accommodation in the usual flash hotels. I wonder how they felt when all that was going was that stable full of animals and straw.

What on earth would Joseph and Mary think of today's carry on?

A little baby came into the earth; the angels, shepherds and wise men had encounters that have never been forgotten ... heaven touched earth in a very humble place, and the whole of history was changed in an instant.

Could we maybe change some things? Could we perhaps simplify everything we do, and move quietly and without fuss around our houses and work for a few days? Maybe we could sit still and quiet in the night hours and look for the star, and wait for the heavens to speak to us again of the wonderful love and hope God has given us.

2000 and more years later could we just possibly stop and think, and REALLY take hold of all that was handed to us that night.

Lord may our hearts, minds and lives be touched again with your love and promises. Would you let the heavens pour forth speech that resounds over the nations that are suffering with war, terror, and famine. Would you remind us that we have had the greatest gift of all time, and let us sit in awe and wonder at what you have done for us, that we might be still for a moment and KNOW that you are God.

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.
God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.

John 3:16&17 The Message.

THE REASON WHY ...

2008-11-25T09:08:00.002+13:00

Yesterday I was reminded why we continue to do the art/craft class in the family centre.

Sometimes I grow weary in doing good ... it's the end of the year and the demands are great. My physical person gets tired, and in many ways I feel a whole lot less generous than Jesus would be with all the good things He has given me!

Yesterday a very tired and broken woman sat next to me at the table. She is expecting her 10th baby and had a demanding 18 month old at her side. She had never done anything creative in her life and was nervous and hesitant about beginning.

As we sat side by side she began to make some cards for Christmas, slowly at first and then with ever growing enthusiasm and skill.

When it came time for the class to end and the other women left, she worked quietly on ... lost in a world of her own, making something beautiful and distinctly her own. I was certainly not going to break in on the process!

Eventually she finished and began to talk to me about what she was going to make next week, already looking forward to it.

I write this with tears. How little we need to do to make another person's life just a little more joyful, and yet how wonderful it is to see someone find that place of peace and joy.

It was good to remember the reason why we love to serve Jesus, and the reason why He was born and died. There is truly wonderful meaning in the Christmas season as this is reinforced in my life once again. I am grateful, always grateful.

POWERFUL UNITY

2008-11-10T23:14:00.002+13:00

I feel that God is giving us a new directive for this time, and that it is a way to move forward and to move in His power more than we have previously. We know that He is instructing us in fresh ways about prayer for this time, and this seems to fit amazingly with where we are at right now.

For a long time I have believed what He showed me years ago - that there will come a time when we weave prayer and worship together in a way that releases a new level of God's power and authority - way beyond anything we have previously seen.

In reading Acts 16 recently there was a fresh revelation, it opened up by the Spirit, and I saw something of what He has been talking to me about. I believe that He is giving us a pattern to work with in this nation in this hour.

In many ways prayer and worship are one and the same, and yet here in Acts 16 we see that they are deliberately stated as separate and yet happening at the same time. The end result of this is:
- a violent earthquake
- foundations shaken
- prison doors opened
- chains broken
- salvation
- baptism
- God’s authority released in the city

As we live in increasingly uncertain times, it’s good to remember that Paul and Silas had been:
- unjustly accused
- Stripped (humiliated)
- Beaten (severely flogged)
- Put in a cell with no windows
- Their feet were shackled
- It was midnight

None of these things would have made them feel great and would have provided areas to be overcome in order to be able to PRAY and SING HYMNS TO GOD. In other words, this kind of action did not happen in the ‘comfort zone’!

I believe there is something new to be undertaken in this kind of prayer. A change from worshippers getting on with songs and music while the prayers/intercessors look in from the outside and cover that activity. What is spoken of in Acts 16 holds the two actions separate but together. I see us as ‘prayers’ far more than ‘intercessors’ now, the prayer function having become more defined and much more a ‘life’ rather than a random action.

I see this action as being like the centre plait in a kete from which it takes it strength and from which the weaving of the whole basket is done.
As prayer and worship weave together in this way, moving side by side, it creates a movement like that of a waka. The prayer paddle moves through the water on one side, then the worship paddle on the other, in perfect rhythm moving the vessel forward smoothly and safely.
The strong sense I have is that in the working together there will be a definite rhythm established, one function pushing forward and then the other moving in and establishing that ground while the other pauses. It will be this definite rhythm that will keep the strength and the forward movement, and I believe the movement will be dictated by the Holy Spirit.

In the old testament the priestly functions were quite defined as in 1 Chronicles 9 (I have put a portion of that below). We are now all priests in His kingdom, but I see the praying people as having the gatekeeping function which keeps the temple guarded while the musicians stay inside and do their work. They are all taking up positions in and around the Lord’s house (which we are told is a house of prayer) and so are serving before Him constantly and together.

Probably the most powerful outcome of the Acts 16 prayer and worship is that of God’s authority being released in the city, and those who had previously oppressed Paul and Silas were now required to come and give them respect and escort them out of the city. In other words, the oppression was overturned, and events turned in their favour. They appear to have been completely focused on God, His greatness, and His ability – El Shaddai moved to turn the flow of events in the direction He wanted them to go.

There is much more to all of this, and it is hard to condense it in this way. However, there is a powerful anointing on what He was showing, and I have prayed for God to give opportunity for it to be expressed. So far where it has been spoken out people’s hearts have been moved, and I have seen that the Lord has given them understanding, especially the worshippers.

~~~~~~~

1 Ch 9:13 The priests, who were heads of families, numbered 1,760. They were able men, responsible for ministering in the house of God.
1 Ch 9:17 The gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their brothers, Shallum their chief
1Ch 9:18 being stationed at the King's Gate on the east, up to the present time. These were the gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites.
1Ch 9:19 Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his fellow gatekeepers from his family (the Korahites) were responsible for guarding the thresholds of the Tent just as their fathers had been responsible for guarding the entrance to the dwelling of the LORD.
1Ch 9:20 In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar was in charge of the gatekeepers, and the LORD was with him.
1Ch 9:21 Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
1Ch 9:22 Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer.
1Ch 9:23 They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the LORD—the house called the Tent.
1Ch 9:24 The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north and south.
1Ch 9:25 Their brothers in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day periods.
1Ch 9:26 But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God.
1Ch 9:27 They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning.
1Ch 9:28 Some of them were in charge of the articles used in the temple service; they counted them when they were brought in and when they were taken out.
1Ch 9:29 Others were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the flour and wine, and the oil, incense and spices.
1Ch 9:30 But some of the priests took care of mixing the spices.
1Ch 9:31 A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with the responsibility for baking the offering bread.
1Ch 9:32 Some of their Kohathite brothers were in charge of preparing for every Sabbath the bread set out on the table.
1Ch 9:33 Those who were musicians, heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night.
1Ch 9:34 All these were heads of Levite families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem

EMPTY BASKETS

2008-11-03T10:43:00.001+13:00

Yesterday as I prayed, asking how we might help and reach the people around us, and how we might see them walk out full and purposeful lives in Jesus, I felt the Lord say that many come "with empty baskets".

As He said this, I realised that in many cases the whole emphasis is on people coming to know Jesus, but there is less importance given to helping them walk with Him and get to know Him better. An hour a week in church wont do that for the majority, they need something a whole lot more personal.

It seemed to me that the challenge was for each of us to keep our baskets full, always containing something ready in season for where it would be needed.

The empty baskets appeared to be the outreaches, and good works that salve Christian conscience but cost the individual only a small proportion of their time and effort out of all the rest of daily life.

Coming with a full basket into daily life and into the midst of the communities in which we live has a constant and ongoing influence way beyond what we may ever see.

Are our baskets full enough to be carried daily, hourly, into the lives of those around us, giving our the live, love and hope that is ours for all eternity in Jesus Christ?

I believe as we allow Him to fill the basket, and then go out with what we have been given, we will find ourselves distributing the loaves and the fishes. I don't believe the baskets will ever be empty but will be constantly filled, replenished as we empty them. I believe our own lives will be enriched beyond anything we have yet experienced.

How full are our baskets?

The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, kept taut by hope. The Message is as true among you today as when you first heard it. It doesn't diminish or weaken over time.
It's the same all over the world. The Message bears fruit and gets larger and stronger, just as it has in you. From the very first day you heard and recognized the truth of what God is doing, you've been hungry for more. Colossians 1:5 & 6 (The Message)

OUT OF THE ZONE!

2008-10-20T22:19:00.001+13:00

How we love to have everything neat and tidy, all taped up so that we can understand it, cope with it, never be unduly discomforted by what it might contain for us ... always working for the comfort zone; working for the dollars that buy us the comfort zone; using the dollars to buy the things that make the comfort zone comfortable.

Then something happens that shakes the comfort zone a little, rattles it around, and leaves us 'all shook up' and wondering how to do life when it is a little out of control. Maybe the severity of the shaking means we might even need something our dollars can't buy ... maybe we would even need something man cant do for us, and we have nowhere to go. Maybe we need something beyond everything natural to help us, or nothing can help us at all!

Now we have a chance to discover a wonderful truth ... miracles don't happen in the comfort zone because you don't need them there!

Our television adverts constantly ask "Are you ready?". They are talking of course about the constant possibility we live with of an earthquake or eruption that would require different action, different life, different survival techniques - way out of the comfort zone in an instant of time.

So, how many of us have truly faced the question of 'shaking', of a messing with our comfort zone without warning? How many of us truly grapple with what we would do, and how we would get through it.

Maybe the first shaking we face is the looking beyond our comfort zone into the things around us that are already falling apart. Looking at the lives that are broken and shattered, the families that are being torn apart by poverty, violence, addictions.

"Are you ready?" Ready to really look at the people and situations around you that have lost their comfort zone and have hearts crying out for help where there seems to be no help of any kind?

"Are you ready?" Ready to extend a hand, a hope, a prayer?

As you begin to look and respond you begin to move into the realm where miracles take place. Miracles of love, hope and restoration. A place where we need more than money can ever buy us.

"Are you ready?" To look for a source of love, hope, power and miracles. Would you pray, would you love, would you go?

Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighbourhood. (Mat 10:6) "The Message"

DARK CORNERS

2008-09-18T22:04:00.002+12:00

There is such a strong sense today of God seeing EVERY PERSON.
We know that NOTHING is hidden from Him, and I know His eyes are on EVERY ONE.

The person who struggles in the deepest, darkest place is known to the One who made him/her. His heart knows the pain and His eyes see the circumstances, and the struggle, as He looks for a way to penetrate the darkness and reveal Himself.

HE CARES, HE LOVES, HE DESIRES to be in relationship with EVERY ONE He created. Each one is alive because He gives them breath.

We avoid the dark corners, they are scary to most of us and way out of our comfort zone. Is there a dark corner with a struggling soul anywhere near you or me? Somewhere that bewilders and confuses us but we know we should reach in and bring His life?

We can reach into these places with prayer, and begin to bring a glimmer of His light as we do. As we persist, gradually the light increases and those things that live in the darkness to torment and disturb back away from the light.

NEVER say 'I can ONLY pray' - ONLY doesn't belong in the description of such a powerful weapon.

In what direction will each of us shine some light and life today?

John 1:4&5

In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Ephesians 1:18

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enLIGHTened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you .........

MORE ....

2008-09-07T17:17:00.001+12:00

Yesterday I spent the whole day with a group of beautiful women. All just growing in their relationship with God. I listened to amazing and very inspirational speakers talking about the wonderful evidence of God's hand in their lives - He has most certainly done amazing things. It was a good day in every respect, and there was nothing at all in the day that jarred or jangled.

On the way home, however, I found myself back on what has been a constant track for so long now. As I drove along I felt the Lord's presence in my car, I loved that nearness that is only found alone with Him, and it forced a great cry from the depths of my being. How I long to know more of Him, more about Him, to walk even closer to Him every minute and hour of the day.

I'm not talking about some hidden away place, but about all that He is totally permeating my being; flowing through and out of me in such a constant stream of His life that it flows wherever I am.

There are so many pursuits offered to us today ... all of them good in themselves ... but I find my heart in pursuit of one thing and one thing only. No longer can I pray for 'revival', 'glory', 'healing', manifestations of the Holy Spirit, because they are not what my heart longs for.

My thought yesterday was this. God, You are Love, so will you let your heart overflow towards me, so that it will fill my heart to overflowing and that love will pour out where it is most needed. Surely if God is Love, then that is the essence of all things, the One Thing that is needed, the One Thing that will bring all the answers we seek?

I love how The Message expresses Psalm 90:14-17:

Surprise us with love at daybreak; then we'll skip and dance all the day long.
Make up for the bad times with some good times; we've seen enough evil to last a lifetime. Let your servants see what you're best at-- the ways you rule and bless your children.
And let the loveliness of our Lord, our God, rest on us, confirming the work that we do. Oh, yes. Affirm the work that we do!

That is my prayer: Come and surprise us with love Lord, and let that love affirm and confirm all that we do.

THIN ICE

2008-08-31T14:22:00.006+12:00

Recently I had an unusual picture while praying. I saw a person leaping from one piece of cracked ice to the next. These thin pieces of ice were floating on deep water as they melted and rapidly became thinner and more fragile.

I held my breath watching this picture, knowing that at any moment the ice was going to crack and the person fall through it. That person could first and foremost be myself!

Obviously the question arose; why this picture and why see it now?

It seemed that the implied message was that we are moving now into a new season, and into much deeper waters. To be able to swim and survive in deep waters we need to be unencumbered and have strength for the long haul! If we fall into deep water we have to discard heavy footwear and clothing - in fact anything that isn't absolutely necessary - in order to lighten up and swim well.

How did this relate to the guy on the thin ice? Well, it seemed that he thought he didn't need to do much more than jump from one piece to another in order to survive, and wasn't prepared to take some time to take stock of his situation or the changing climate.

At the beginning of this year the Lord encouraged us to 'seek wisdom' for this time, and perhaps wisdom would dictate that changing seasons are time to take stock and see that we are well prepared for the next one.

Maybe these are the times to make sure the foundations in our lives are strong enough to take us through the coming changes. If you are going to add another level to your house you first check that the existing foundations can take it's weight.

I wonder if in the Christian family we are looking at the outworking of something called The Peter Principle, which Wikipedia describes like this:

The Peter Principle is the principle that "In a Hierarchy Every Employee Tends to Rise to His Level of Incompetence." While formulated by Dr. Laurence J Peter and Raymond Hull in their 1968 book The Peter Principle, a humorous treatise which also introduced the "salutary science of Hierarchiology", "inadvertently founded" by Peter, the principle has real validity. It holds that in a hierachy, members are promoted so long as they work competently. Sooner or later they are promoted to a position at which they are no longer competent (their "level of incompetence"), and there they remain. Peter's Corollary states that "in time, every post tends to be occupied by an employee who is incompetent to carry out his duties" and adds that "work is accomplished by those employees who have not yet reached their level of incompetence".

I am not suggesting that we should live in a hierachy, but that some of what this suggests can apply to our personal lives. God uses us all for His purpose and is not looking for perfection, but I do believe He is always looking for flexibility and willingness to be clay in His hands.

If the ice is going to melt under my feet, then I want to be able to swim.

URGENCY AND AGENDA

2008-08-13T17:02:00.003+12:00

So often we come screaming to the Lord, overflowing with urgency and agenda, desperate that He will move and fix this thing that we see cannot be fixed. We move with a flurry of desperation and very little faith.

We forget that He is not feeling urgent about it, neither is His composure disturbed, BUT AS WE ENCOUNTER HIM our urgency decreases, our agenda falls away, and we are caught up in heaven's atmosphere and the KNOWING that our God reigns, He is on His throne and very much in charge. We come into His presence and it changes us, then the things around us begin to change!

Can we learn to carry the thoughts of heaven in our hearts, so that when the urgent situation arises, we turn instantly to the source of our help, our hearts quiet with faith that He knows and He will do whatever is necessary in His great eternal plan. Our work is to continue to 'remain in Him, and He in us' in order that the cry of our heart will be heard and the answer will come.

What is the cry of our heart? YOU ARE GOD, You have said 'I AM' and right now I agree that you are indeed are who you say you are. I believe in You, and I have faith in your great power and ability, in the fact that YOU ARE ABLE TO DO MORE THAN I CAN ASK OR IMAGINE.

All creation groans waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. Who might these sons of God who are led by the Spirit of God be? Maybe they are those who KNOW their Father and have great trust and faith in His goodness, His greatness, His power. Those who are able to remain in His presence and therefore reflect something of His life and light into a dark world.

I wonder if those He will send away from Him because He does not know them will be those who have never stopped moving in urgency and agenda, and have therefore missed the wonder of seeing who He truly is, AND what He can so wonderfully do?

These are the days when we will need to know our God in order to stand and survive in the face of great challenges. Lord we ask that You will reveal your trustworthiness to our hearts, and secure us in the knowledge and love of You; helping us to rest in You and let go of our urgent agendas. Thank you that YOU make all things beautiful in YOUR time, that nothing is hidden from your gaze as your eyes range to and fro over the earth looking to show yourself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are turned towards you. We are lovingly grateful.

Teach us Lord to be still and KNOW that You ARE God.

A Tribute

2008-08-05T23:24:00.002+12:00

Many years ago I read some books by Alexander Solzhenitsyn that impacted me greatly.

This week the author died, leaving a legacy of having persevered under great difficulties, and holding firmly to what he believed regardless of all that was taking place around him.

I have kept a copy of the following in the back of my bible, and it seems a good time to share it now with any of you who wander through here! May it encourage and inspire us all.

I LOOK BACK IN WONDER (Alexander Solzhenitsyn)

How easy for me to live with you, O Lord! How easy for me to believe in You!

When my mind parts in bewilderment or falters,

When the most intelligent people see no further than this day's end, and do not know what must be done tomorrow,

You grant me the serene certitude that You exist and that You will take care that not all the paths of good be closed.

Atop the ridge of earthly fame I look back in wonder at the path which I alone could never have found, a wondrous path through despair to this point from which I, too, could transmit to mankind a reflection of your rays.

And as much as I must still reflect You will give me, but as much as I cannot take up You will have already assigned to others.

Vision Of Gold and Fire

2008-07-30T14:48:00.001+12:00

For some reason I find myself in a season of republishing what has been written some time ago. I believe the Lord wants us to know that it is true that He does indeed speak ahead about what He is going to do and, as we look at what is happening today, we should also look at His prophetic speaking ahead of these events. I believe that we need to know and understand that as He brings forth His purposes and plans for all creation, we will indeed be aware of the 'birth pangs' in the midst of the glory.

April 18, 2005
This vision began with the fiery cloud of God that He has shown at other times. It was the fiery person of God, the Father being the outer covering, or creative head, over all.

The vast fire that is Jesus in the very heart of all of God’s creative redeeming love blazed and appeared almost a mixture of fire and blood, within the very heart of the cloud.

Extending from the cloud was a long arm of cloud that became as a finger that extended His life to all His creation – a finger gentle and yet powerful and precise – the Holy Spirit who continues to bring God’s personal touch to all He has created.

As I watched the fire began to erupt and flow, unstoppable, pouring upwards and outwards from this heart. It was like something erupting out of heaven and beginning to flow out high above the whole earth.
It began to rain down drops of gold and fire. Both gold and fire fell together into a great ocean (which I felt represented the ocean of humanity), and they were unchanged on contact with the sea. They continued moving, flowing, accomplishing God’s purpose as He continued to pour out of heaven without ceasing.

I understood as I watched that this outpouring would bring change to the very substance of all we know – nothing could remain untouched or unchanged except by deliberately erecting a barrier to it which would be extremely dangerous as it would leave deep darkness behind the barrier. There was a separation that became very distinct, fire or deep darkness.

Wherever the gold and fire touched, there was a turning around and a flow back towards the source of the eruption.

I felt the Lord quietly saying that this was shortly to come. That we should not be afraid or discouraged by what we saw but embrace the fire and gold and let it do it’s work in our lives.

The Lord reminded me that He had spoken of birth pangs and the signs that would be visible in this age and asked if He would have spoken in such a way if it were not true. I felt He was saying that there has been selective hearing and believing of His Word but all that He speaks is true. Men can not imagine what is to come.

"Look around among the nations! For what you see will completely astound you! For what is going to be done in your days you will not believe, even when you are told.” Hab.1:5 (CJB)

I felt the Lord asking “Would you have things remain exactly as they are?” I felt that He was saying this was the time when He would move and many who have cried out and prayed will know that they have been heard.

I heard Him say there is yet another book to be written, and it will be The Book of Completion. All things will be brought to completion in the right way at the right time. I had a sense that it was going to be read in heaven; the book that contained the completion of all things He has ever spoken, and they will all have come to pass.

I will stand at my watch post; I will station myself on the rampart. I will look to see what God will say through me and what I will answer when I am reproved.
“Write down the vision clearly on tablets, so that even a runner can read it. For the vision is meant for its appointed time; it speaks of the end, and it does not lie. It may take a while, but wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.” Hab. 2:1-3 (CJB)

RECORDING THE TIMES

2008-07-23T11:56:00.003+12:00

Isaiah 30:8 Now go, write it on a tablet before them and inscribe it on a scroll, that it may serve in the time to come as a witness forever.

Jeremiah 30:2 Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book.'

Jeremiah 36:2 "Take a scroll and write on it all the words which I have spoken to you concerning Israel, and concerning Judah, and concerning all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you, from the days of Josiah, even to this day."

In the past such records were to be a witness to what the Lord was doing - the exciting thing about this now is that again I believe He is wanting a testimony and witness to what He is doing, and more importantly, about to do!

There is a strong sense in this day that the Lord is once again calling his people to make records of the time. In the last few days as I have prayed, it seems that there is a fresh call and release to those with creative gifts and especially those of writing, painting, sculpture and music, to begin to record the revelation, events, and very essence of these times. Some people groups recorded their history in dance.

There are many who have been in preparation for this for many years and will feel a release now to begin to pour out that which has been built into their lives.

I think of wonderful past records that even now amaze us, e.g. the Bible, the Book of Kells and other historic records carefully prepared by those called to the task, and still respected today. The paintings of great artists, and the sculptures and carvings that give a glimpse of the past (especially here in New Zealand), and the songs of David that give a glimpse into his time. Now we are called in another time to record the work of the Lord.

In the chapters from which the verses above are taken, the Lord was asking for records in tumultuous times; times of shaking and dealing, and of His calling people back to Himself. So, the question arises that should make our hearts tremble before Him - What does He plan to do in this day and time that will bring great glory to His Name and people into fresh relationship with Himself?

NET OF FIRE

2008-06-17T08:27:00.006+12:00

Today I want to republish a post from quite a while back as a reminder.
My heart feels concern as the Lord begins to reach out and touch His Body again with His power, and something cries out inside of me "Remember this is NOT about us!"
In the last move of God it was the most wonderful thing to know that we could experience the presence of God as we did - I felt like a child with a generous and indulgent father who lavished His love upon me.

Recently I was visiting a city church and saw a waterfall of fire ahead of this people. As it came nearer, the waterfall tipped over and became a net of fire that fell over the people. Behind the net were many shadowy figures, they were following close behind it.
It seemed that the Lord was throwing His fire over the congregation as a preparation for what the same net would contain.

Therefore, it would seem that the fire is to be embraced as preparation and we must let it do its work! The ones for whom this fire is being poured out, and who will be attracted to it as moths to a flame, are already running for the net!

Here is the post that was published as FLAMES OF FIRE (November 27, 2005):

His messengers are 'flames of fire' - just how fired up are we? Would anyone meeting me know that there is fire inside of me that burns with passion that is way beyond anything this world has to offer? Do each of us have any idea, or any desire, to have the smoldering coals that we call faith burst into life in a way that will not only change things around us, but bring us into disrepute in some quarters and cost us dearly?
How much do we truly desire this fire, that we could sing the amazing revival song :
"O God of burning, cleansing flame, send the fire!
Your blood-bought gift today we claim, send the fire today!
Look down and see this waiting host,
And send the promised Holy Ghost,
We need another Pentecost,
Send the fire today.
We have seen God move in many ways, but would we yet say we have had another Pentecost as we look at what remains after the fire?
What will it take? What would you give us God if we cried out loudly enough? How much of what you pour out could we manage to carry?
There are many questions, and while we ask them people are dying. Dying for lack of God, for lack of love, for lack of hope, for lack of healing, for lack....lack....lack.
Do we sufficiently feel that lack? Does it become our magnificent obsession to be in some supernatural way empowered by God to carry His fire and His flame out into the needy world - they will not be neutral - they will either love and embrace this or hate it and persecute!
HIS messengers are FLAMES OF FIRE!

STEADY IN THE SHAKING

2008-06-04T17:51:00.002+12:00

I believe that in these uncertain times the Lord wants to encourage us not to be concerned, anxious or afraid. This is a time of shaking that will unsettle many, but above all else I believe He wants to remind us THE HAND THAT SHAKES IS ALSO THE HAND THAT STEADIES. The Lord does not forget or overlook faithfulness, and reminds us in this day of the strength of His promises, they are true for all eternity! All that He has spoken to each one of us WILL come to pass, and He only requires that we would 'remain in Him'.

There are testing times ahead and many can feel their nearness, but once again the Lord reminds us of His promise to be with us in the water and in the fire, because He loves us, because we are His.

PRAYER:

In all the nations we see unfaithfulness or lack of knowledge of the One True God, their Creator. Everywhere we look there is war, famine, disaster and godlessness. In days of old Lord, You would take a man or woman whose heart was toward You, clothe them with Your Holy Spirit, power and wisdom, and use them on behalf of Your Kingdom. Thank you for your great loving kindness towards all You have made; that the rain falls on all! Please move again in our day Lord and raise up men and women after Your own heart, clothe them with Your Holy Spirit, and lead, guide and enable them to accomplish Your will.

Picture: The woods at Glendalough, Ireland. The monastic community at Glendalough was established by St. Kevin of Glendalough who died in 618 - the buildings still stand, the wood continues to grow, some trees fall and others stand - the things that God creates endure!

FRUIT FOR THE HUNGRY

2008-05-20T14:05:00.002+12:00

In this moment of time many are experiencing a fresh move of God's Spirit and loving His nearness and presence, getting excited about the things He is doing. Why is this happening now? Are we looking, wondering, asking questions as to what it is He is wanting to accomplish - beyond meeting our needs and making us feel good?

I truly believe it is a time to look wider, not focus down onto what is taking place but hold it before us and ask the Lord to show us the wider context in HIS plans.

Let us move quietly with Him, expectant and listening, allowing Him to accomplish His work in our lives to prepare us for something even bigger than what we can see.

In March of last year I had the following vision, and suspect it may be a part of this wider picture, so have posted it again for consideration.

In this vision I was sitting on the threshing floor (a place the Lord had been calling me to regularly in the last few weeks).

The pressing cry that came three times was: “Let the chaff go and the wheat remain”, and then straight after that: “Lord have mercy”.

There was a desperation in me that He would blow away the chaff in my own life, and I could see He was wanting to prepare me for something that was coming. I also saw that He was drawing my attention to the chaff itself.

Immediately the question came: “If I blow away the chaff, where will it go?”

I then saw a lake of fire. It looked like a forest fire burning at a low level. The flames were not leaping high but were constant and the wind was constantly blowing on them keeping them at an intense heat. The flames were fuelled by the substance they were burning on which seemed like thick oil.

Matthew 3:12 came to mind : “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire”.

Again came the cry: “Lord have mercy”.

Now I saw the fire being held back. There was a wall that it could not break through. There had been something built up that held back the fire.

I could hear only one word : “HOLINESS”.

With this word came the understanding that as the people of God pursue holiness, it is as if they are all turned with their backs to the fire, and they become the wall that holds the fire back.

I saw that the pursuit of holiness allows the RIVER OF GOD to flow, it keeps His people cool and flows over those around them, a cooling, healing stream.

I saw that the people of God had become TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS and were beginning to release life and healing to those around them, and especially to those who were huddled together terrified of the fire.

I saw the LOST. They were no longer ignorant, but were afraid as they saw the fire approaching and also saw those who stood between them and the fire.

THEIR EYES HAD BEEN OPENED TO THEIR CONDITION AND THEIR DANGER.

I saw the RIVER before my feet, it was clear and there were a few small fish swimming in it, but as I looked upstream I saw more, and larger, fish coming.

I saw God’s people STANDING in this place, and those in need coming and picking the fruit of these lives and putting it into their mouths – they were HELPING THEMSELVES to what the Lord had produced.

THE HARVEST HAD BEGUN.

The scriptures that came to mind as I was looking at this were:

Jeremiah 17:7 & 8

Romans 8

Galatians 5-16 – 6:10

Revelation 22

I was aware of the manifestation of the sons and daughters of God, those who chose to walk by His Spirit and turn their backs on the things of this world that kept their souls comfortable.

I was aware that the pursuit of holiness is not the pointing out of the faults of others, but individually coming to the threshing floor and falling on our faces, asking Him to have mercy and remove the chaff from our lives.

We turn towards You, Father, make us Your own sons and daughters in this time. Help us to stand as Your trees with our roots in Your Word, watered by the river of Your Life, always bearing fruit.

We put our trust and confidence in You alone.

STAY AND PRAY

2008-05-06T19:22:00.005+12:00

O beauty ever ancient, ever new.

Too late have I loved you.

I was outside and you were within me.

And I never found you until I found

You within myself.

St. Augustine

Today I have felt constrained to stay still, sit quietly in one place, not running here and there, but quietly in His presence. Every time I sit still the Lord is there sitting with me, His presence strong and beautiful.

Obviously the question arises "Why Lord ... right now?" Why this almost tangible block to everything that would seem to excite and fulfil, even to things that You have called me to and enabled me to do? Why now?

I have watched and read as reports come of the Lord moving again in this day; reading of the excitement of 'revival' meetings that many are flocking to, even travelling long distances to be part of because God's presence is there and He is moving to do wonderful things in the midst of the people.

In the face of all of this, I felt today He was saying "Stay where you are and pray."

As I ponder this I believe He is showing something important for the days ahead. Yes ... we are hungry and thirsty ... longing for more of Him in our midst ... but still I hear Him saying "Stay where you are and pray."

Could it be that where we are right now is where He has placed us?

Could it be that we could miss something wonderful He intends to do in this place because we run off to another where the grass looks a little greener?

Could it be that our placing and our prayers are a little more important to the Lord than we ever thought they might be?

In past events have we perhaps missed the fullness of what He wanted to do because we chased after the obvious and were not willing to STAND in the place He put us and pray that He would manifest His presence there.

Just maybe, there are people all around us who will miss out on KNOWING the greatness of our God because we were off chasing it somewhere else instead of praying that He would come visit right where we are now.

All I can say is that He is causing me to sit still with Him and saying "Stay where you are and pray."

TRUE FELLOWSHIP

2008-04-21T14:49:00.003+12:00

I am looking for the fellowship of the burning heart – for men and women of all generations everywhere who love the Savior until adoration becomes the music of their soul until they don’t have to be fooled with and entertained and amused. Jesus Christ is everything, all-in-all. A.W. Tozer

As I look at this quote, which has long been a favourite of mine, it brings me back to the great loneliness that many feel, even in the midst of the crowd and the events that are taking place around us.

Where are the burning hearts? Are they feeling alone and isolated simply because their hearts continue to seek only for true fellowship with Jesus Himself. They are not comforted by the words of man, or the worship that entertains and soothes the soul - no, their spirits are constantly searching, seeking, longing, for something that this world cannot provide.

In Luke 9:27 Jesus made an astonishing statement: I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Kingdom of God."

Perhaps those with the burning hearts are those He would say that same thing to? Perhaps they are those who long for the mountain experience with Jesus where He opens up things eternal before their eyes, and with their own ears they hear the voice of God the Father speaking about His Son.

The wonderfully exciting thing about Luke 9:27 is that in this moment we meet Prophecy Himself speaking, Jesus THE Prophet speaks of what is ahead, and yet what exactly it meant was probably not clear to any of those present.

Luke 9:28 goes on to tell us About 8 days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. I guess they had been on mountains to pray with Jesus before, and this would have seemed like another such occasion as they set out.

Luke 9:29-35 tells us what took place on the mountain top and it is amazing to read - the wonder of Jesus' whole appearance changing as He stood in the presence of the great prophets and the cloud of His Father's presence.

In these passages we also see that what Prophecy Himself prophesied came to pass as the disciples were there with Him and were enveloped in the cloud of God's presence - they saw His glory, and Moses and Elijah standing with Him.

An eternal kingdom was opened up before them on the mountain, a kingdom where God still was with Moses in the cloud, and meeting with Elijah on the mountaintop! A kingdom where the glory of heaven is seen and wondered at.

Will those with the burning hearts be forever dissatisfied until they themselves have also seen this Kingdom? Are they those who live their lives longing for that which is to come in order that it will come, and perhaps are they those that Prophecy Himself has chosen to take with Him on a very specific journey?

Peter, who was there on the mountain top with Jesus, speaks to us out of this experience in 2 Peter 2:16-21 and gives us wonderful advice that resounds through the ages since:

2 Peter 2:19-21 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Lord let our hearts burn with a longing for Your Word, Your Truth, and to be 'carried along' by Your Holy Spirit.

STANDING FIRM

2008-04-04T15:18:00.002+13:00

Right now much of my blogging comes from a wrestling with where prayer is leading us, who it is leading us to be, how we are to be, in these days.

In some areas and thinking, prayer has become one more weapon in our arsenal against the enemy, or a way of getting what we have decided we should have, rather than the expression of our intimate, loving, friendship with the Lord.

I begin to understand why the long-standing praying communities had 'rules' or guidelines set by the founder to hold the members in their pursuit of Jesus, and their expression of that.

I do not read of those who have kept prayer alive down the centuries having to be THE prophet, apostle, or leader in prayer. In recent times we seem to have moved from having to be prophetic, to needing to be apostolic, and now prayer has become the thing of the moment, with each stream being taken hold of by a man to needs to make sure it grows and accomplishes great things!

God's thoughts on these things are expressed well in His speaking about Jesus (our model) in Matthew 12:18-21.

Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, til he leads justice to victory.

In his name the nations will put their hope.

How many bruised reeds, and smoldering wicks have been sacrificed under the feet of man's selfish ambition?

Much of the past warfare and 'breakthrough' prayer has used up a huge amount of human strength and ability. Now as God begins to reveal our weaknesses and human frailty, what will we draw on to fight? What weapons will He place in our hands?

If I am standing beside a giant who can conquer my enemies, tucked in under his great arm, I will feel safe and secure, able to join Him in laughing in the face of such enemies because He knows He cannot be defeated and I KNOW this to be the truth.

Does your prayer and mine bring us to this place of KNOWING our God, and therefore standing firm in the face of all opposition?

Culturally some will be warriors and others peacemakers, but we need to move into the culture of His Kingdom and life, for this is our strength and our hope,

Paul writes in Colossians 1

I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness - the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Is this mystery at work within you and I? Is this mystery at work in our prayer lives, and especially in the prayers that come forth from our lips?

Do we stand with the giant - the One who has overcome everything on our behalf and laughs in the face of His enemies, or do we feel as if there is something we have to do to help Him, or suggest to Him what He needs to do?

Surely this mystery Who dwells within us will be gloriously revealed if we will let Him have His way through and beyond ourselves, past our human noise and endeavours, and most especially in our prayer.

The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:11&12

So many want to DO (even with prayer), but so few want to BE (especially with prayer) - immersed in God in order that He might move.

PRAY FOR MARI

2008-03-26T12:02:00.004+13:00

I don't very often put personal stuff or requests on my blog, but here is a really worthwhile exception!

I know that many of you who read this are great praying people, and so I wanted to let you know that my very dear friend Mari needs prayer right now.

She is a most precious and special person, one who loves and encourages everyone she comes in contact with. Her heart for the needy and underprivileged is really amazing, and she has outworked this in so many great ways here in NZ.

You will see a link to a blogsite here "Mari's news" which will tell you all about her current situation, updates, and help you to know how to pray. PLEASE PRAY ... God loves her and so do we. Thank you to all who do this, it means such a lot, and is the best thing that anyone can do.

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the Lord, your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour;

I give Egypt for your ransom,

Cush and Seba in your stead.

Since you are precious and honoured in my sight,

and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you,

and people in exchange for your life.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you ......"

Isaiah 43

Where are you going my friend?

2008-03-15T23:37:00.004+13:00

For quite a long time last year, whenever I was in the car I seemed to hear an advertisement on the radio that began "Where are you going my friend...?" Then it proceeded to tell you where you should or could go. That was fine, but right now I only have the question and would not presume to suggest an answer!

Where are you going my friend? Are you following that indefinable thing that has burned in your heart as long as you can remember, the flame that occasionally leaps and burns brighter when a fresh wind blows on it?

Where are you going my friend? Are you following the pathways that logic and the world dictate; the pathway that circumstances have forced you on to; or maybe the pathway that leads to the fulfillment of your dream and ambition at the cost of someone else's?

Where are you going my friend? Are you being tried and tested, sifted like wheat, stripped of pride, fortune, ambition, strength, and wondering how you will take the next step forward?

Where are you going my friend? Are you finding yourself face down on the ground before your King, crying out in your passion and despair over things that He has placed in your heart that remain burning in your heart when everything around you appears dead or dry as dust?

Where are you going my friend? Are you pushing yourself towards your dream or passion, making a way, collecting evidence that you are favoured by God for all the world to see?

At this moment in time the question reverberates, and I would not dare to try to answer it, except to say that we are told there is only One way. I would dare to suggest that unless the path we are on aims us at Him, our Way, Life and Truth, then maybe we have taken a wrong turning somewhere along the way, maybe we are hearing a voice quietly whispering ... "Where are you going my friend....?"

When the authorities of the day were considering what to do with those unstoppable followers of Jesus, even to the point of wanting to put them to death, a wise man among them spoke words that it would do well to hold in our hearts as we walk into the time ahead:

"Therefore in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." (Acts 5:38 & 39)

Where are you going my friend ....?

"Acts...."

2008-03-04T12:09:00.001+13:00

I just had a wonderful weekend with friends. We laughed, ate, talked, played together in beautiful surroundings. At various intervals we prayed for individuals, and finally for our beautiful nation and its people. It felt like living in an "Acts" environment, our unity was not because we all met in the same building, or under the same banner, but because of our shared love and life in Jesus Christ which we were continuing to live even in this environment.

When I came back I was told a little of other meetings that had taken place in the city over the same weekend. At one of them an invited overseas speaker had asked where our own prophetic people were.

I'd like to suggest that some of our own prophetic people were doing exactly what they were supposed to be doing ... they were meeting, ministering, praying and having fellowship in Jesus Christ.

They were encouraging one another forward in a most trying and difficult time.

They were praying for greater strength, anointing, and endurance to continue in the race.

They were listening to God speaking through various ones present and responding to His voice and heart in prayer.

They were wrapping their arms, love and prayer around those who have been wounded and grown weary along the way.

I know of others visiting and ministering in fellowships in 'off the track' places that important invited people would probably never get too.

Those of you who know me will understand that I am reasonably mild-mannered and not often given over to anger. However, at the end of our prayer time something arose from deep within me and I found myself 'roaring' into the heavenlies the enormous pain and concern I feel for this nation, while others wept over the place we find ourselves at this time.

The following day I was back amongst the women and children who are representative of the pain and disfunction of this nation. Monday night I sat and listened again to their stories, their courage, and their pain and anger. Today, as a result, I am spending another Tuesday weeping.

"Where are our people?"

My prayer and hope is that they are crying out to God to be positioned by Him IN AND FOR THIS TIME. I desperately ask that He would reach into our lives and bring His transforming truth before it is too late. My heart's desire is that our itchy ears would be opened to hear His voice, and our eyes would begin to look for and desire ONLY His face.

Perhaps then there will be no-one coming to ask such questions because the answer will be obvious for all to see.

Dear Jesus, lead us in the paths of righteousness for the sake of Your Name. Please give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand what is important in Your heart in this season. Give us love for You and one another that truly shows who you are. And please dear Lord, give us grace, grace, grace for this season.

THE PRAYER POOL

2008-01-22T17:04:00.001+13:00

Our life in prayer is rather like going swimming!

Initially we are all playing, laughing, shouting and having fun around the edge, until we feel we need to get into the water. We either dive in, making a huge splash and disturbance of the water around us, OR ease ourselves in little by little, moving cautiously and barely making a ripple. Either way, we are eventually up to our necks in the water, immersed in it, feeling it all around us, becoming free and comfortable in this environment.

As we are comfortable, we swim more, and go deeper, until we are either treading water or under it. Ultimately we will be immersed in it, and so it is with prayer.

There comes a time when we are so immersed that our whole life, words, thoughts, actions, emotions, are simply woven with prayer, so joined that we don't stop and separate them to pray, but prayer flows in and out of everything we are, wherever we are. We BECOME prayer, rather than DO prayer.

At this point, it's as if we can breathe under water, and even when we hit really hot water, prayer explodes out of us in response, instead of being shut down.

Prayer begins as an external thing, but becomes an integral part of everything we are and do.

This leads us away from the noisy clamour and into a place where we can 'be still and know' our God. We begin to ponder His attributes and His greatness in our hearts rather than difficulties and circumstances, and so He become LORD in our lives, and over everything that concerns us.

Now we walk in and as prayer. We are full of thanksgiving and praise, and find the way is open when we speak to Him of what is in our hearts.

We are becoming those people the prophet Daniel speaks of who know their God, are mighty in the knowledge of Him, and can withstand the enemy!

We are held in a quiet place of humility, love, and wonder. We are in a place of becoming an unceasing prayer - as long as we have breath (which He gives us) we will be praying, because it is in Him we live, move and have our being, as He has instructed us to live.

2008 A YEAR TO GAIN WISDOM & TO SHINE and OF SPEAKING TO HIS SERVANTS THE PROPHETS

2007-12-31T18:34:00.001+13:00

CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON

I see and feel the new year building on the horizon like great white cumulus clouds. The year will be full and intense - are we ready for it?

Isaiah 19:1 See, the Lord rides in a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt.

The clouds look huge and intimidating, as if they block the way - it will be important to remember the composition of clouds, that it is possible to walk right through them.

This reminds us that only God can create - the enemy moves with counterfeit and deception.

This emphasizes the need to ask the Lord for increased wisdom and discernment for the year ahead.

SEEK WISDOM AND SHINE

Daniel 12:3 is the scripture I am hearing for 2008 ... (In a time of distress) ... Those who are wise (who impart wisdom) will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

I believe the Lord is exhorting us to seek Him for the wisdom that we will need in the coming year, in order that we will indeed shine for Him in the darkness.

We are made to shine! Not so that men can gather and admire or bathe in the glow of our success, but so that the light of the world can be reflected into the darkness of souls and circumstances and shine in the darkest places in order that the darkness will flee.

Matt. 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matt.13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears let him hear.

Rev.2:1-7 speaks to God's people today - it is a critical time to take care of the lamp stands, to return to our first love, to get oil for our lamps, and to SHINE.

There continues to be an urgent sense of our need to gain wisdom in this time, God's wisdom rather than the understanding of this world.

Daniel 11:32 speaks of a people 'WHO KNOW THEIR GOD' who will BE MIGHTY AND WITHSTAND the pressures evil, and says that even in the midst of great tribulation (v.33) "Those who are wise will instruct many".

How do we obtain this precious commodity that we so vitally need? James gives us the answer in chapter 1:5 "If any lack wisdom he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

THEREFORE we hear again the words of Proverbs 8:11

Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

WE HAVE A MODEL AND EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW

Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.

PROPHETIC EXPERIENCE

Twice a year for the past 3 years the Lord has consistently led me back to Amos 3:7 and 8

Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared - who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken - who can but prophesy?

Amos is speaking "what he saw concerning Israel 2 years before the earthquake.." The Lord was giving warning to the people of real shaking that was to take place. In the light of that I take the highlighting of these scriptures very seriously.

Amos 3:4 "Does a lion roar in the thicket when he has no prey?"

It is time to cease from idle and soulish chatter and to listen intently for His voice.

Isaiah 21:3 & 4 speaks of the prophetic man's physical experience after having received a 'dire vision' from God.

"At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labour; I am staggered by what I hear, I am bewildered by what I hear. My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me."

We remain men and women in physical bodies serving our God, and Isaiah reminds us that there is a physical price to be paid for the increased seeing and hearing that is required and is to come.

NEW ZEALAND

I see the two oceans meeting at Cape Reinga and see that the northern tip of New Zealand juts out into the collision of two great oceans.

New Zealanders will be sent out by God into the great oceans of humanity in the midst of great spiritual battle, and will be used to bring God's love and peace, even in the midst of collisions of culture and creed. Many events, and the outworking of God's call, have been building the nation towards this.

The enemy would have us focus on politics and negative events in our nation and communities - even become consumed with these things - but the wise will continue to pray for 'ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to understand' what God is building at this time for His purposes.

There are many in our nation who have faced great pressure, pain and hardship, and are no longer afraid of, or bound by, the things they will face in this and other nations.

One national anthem continues to be a prophetic statement that has been sung and spoken over the nation for decades. We would do well to continue to speak, pray and sing it in this day.

Lord please give us ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to understand what You are wanting to speak to us in these days.

INVITED GUESTS

2007-11-25T12:55:00.001+13:00

This morning I was reading in Matthew 22 about the king inviting his friends to the wedding banquet for his son, and was astonished at how much it began to speak to me of the time in which we live, with some very serious implications.

We see that the king sent his servants to those he knew and was associated with - he wasn't sending a random invitation, they were to go to those that the king had already had communication with to tell them that it was now time for the banquet. However, those who had been invited refused to come.

Again the king sent more servants to tell the invited guests that the dinner was prepared, everything is ready, "Come to the wedding banquet". But they paid no attention and went off, "...one to his field, another to his business." Those remaining mistreated and even killed the servants. Then the king was enraged and he sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city!

Then the king sent out his faithful servants again saying "The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find."

I had a number of thoughts about this as it relates today to the church and the nation.

- How important it is to be sure HE is sending us and to whom. Our lives depend on it.

- Is this a sign and a warning for this time, especially now people are being directed to go outside the church and into the streets and community?

- What does this mean for the church, for the nation?

- Does our greatest danger lie with those who were invited guests but said no?

- Who are those who have been friends and associates of the the king, but are now too busy with growing things and their own businesses to heed the call to come and celebrate at the wedding banquet? So busy in fact, that they mistreat and even kill those sent to remind them of this great event?

All this should cause us to ponder and to pray; to read this important chapter over again; and to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts the directions that the King would give us in this hour.

INHERITANCE

2007-11-16T11:49:00.001+13:00

In the days when there is more and more dispute over the issues of this land we all live in, it seems of great importance to go to the true foundation, the basis upon which all things are built.

It is time for those who believe to come constantly to the feet of the God, at whose feet our national anthem says we sit, and begin from the 'uttermost ends of the earth' to send His Word and Truth forth into the throne room. It is time to agree with His plans and purposes for this nation, and to remember that the true government is upon His shoulders.

“Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.."

Begin to speak out:

Life to you New Zealand

Arise O God in our nation, be our way, our truth, our life. Breathe upon us again.

Let this nation be at Your feet and all that has arisen against You be under Your feet Jesus.

We move again to take up our place and inheritance as a nation.

We ask of You Lord, that Jesus would possess this nation and take her as His inheritance.

We ask that the works of darkness be exposed to Your light, and forced to flee,

All of this we ask in Jesus’ Name.

May it be so.

A STRONG TOWER & A PLACE OF POWER

2007-11-05T13:33:00.001+13:00

2Sa 22:3 The God who is my Rock, in Him will I trust. He is my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower, and my Refuge, my Savior. You save me from violence.

In the place we find ourselves walking, between towering mountains of great good and great evil, it is difficult to see the path ahead, and at times the assault of the enemy feels almost too intense to bear.

This morning as I waited on the Lord and questioned a little about these things he spoke to me on personal matters, and then began to speak in a way that is to encourage all of us.

This is what I believe I heard Him saying:

"There is a castle/a temple/a building that is mine being put in place and man could not conceive of such a place. It will truly be A STRONG TOWER AND A PLACE OF POWER unlike anything known before. The wise and the righteous will know how to access it, where to run to when under attack. Do not be afraid to search for this place, and do not think that anything on this earth built by man's hand will suffice.

My kingdom is coming and so now is the time to lift your eyes, hands, hearts, and begin to live in this world but not of it's kingdom or authority. As rapid change takes place you will see what seemed secure falling down all around you. Do not try to rebuild, simply look up towards what I am establishing.

Let the sense of eternity be expanded in your heart and allow yourself to move beyond the finite limitations of your world to embrace all that is infinite and eternal.

ASK, again and again, come and ask. My Spirit will instruct you and show you the way. So far you have not asked of these things, and so you have not received knowledge of them.

ASK, SEARCH, INQUIRE .... as never before.

Amongst other scriptures I was led to read, Isaiah 54, Psalm 122, and John 15:20 which were very relevant to what is taking place.

OUTSIDE THE CAMP

2007-10-22T10:38:00.001+13:00

Art Katz talks of a place in God, a place of seeing as we are required to see, that will take absolute abandonment to His entire will for us, something beyond the repentance for our carnality and that in fact confronts our spirituality. Can we give up what we see as good, even wonderful in God, in order to go to the place He requires of us?

We see the outworking of this challenge in the case of Israel's official priesthood as they find Jesus Christ, the Messiah, a challenge to all that they hold to be utterly spiritual and therefore they have him killed to protect what they consider to be of God.

Are we facing such challenges today? I truly believe that many of us are, and have to learn to look at them in this light.

What does it mean to go 'outside the camp' - the place that Jesus went to be crucified?

How does it feel to be on the outside looking in - looking at what is apparently gloriously spiritual. Looking at people seeing apparent signs and wonders, receiving prophetic words that are passed around the Body as the word of the moment, and knowing that none of that is for you.

What is God doing when He begins to take people out beyond all that is familiar in God. Yes, outside the comfort and protection of the walls of the church. Outside the security of being part of a family in God, and doing what seems right and good in building up the Body of Christ.

What is God doing?

It is time to be prepared to be utterly surrendered to His will, reminding ourselves that our model is not the church, or its leaders, but Christ Himself. He was a threat to the church of the time that had become so structured and full of rules and regulations. Suddenly they were confronted with the love of God Himself and did not know what to do with Him!

What is He asking of me and of you? Is He asking that we lay down what is most dear, seemingly most good, in order to follow Him into something even better? Is He calling some outside the camp, to wait quietly, without voices or positions, for His instruction, His Word, His way, His truth, His very life itself?

Is this what it means to be separated unto Him? Is this what it means to give up everything for the sake of the One who gave up everything for us? Is this what it means to go outside the camp, so that something can be accomplished that can be accomplished no other way?

Perhaps there are more questions than answers right now, but they are most certainly questions that need to be asked, considered, and ultimately acted upon.

Grace, dear Jesus, grace, love, more grace, more love ....

HIS PLANS : HIS SHAKING

2007-10-17T11:56:00.001+13:00

Right now I see us making our way carefully on a VERY narrow path between two huge mountains. One mountain contains great good, and the other exudes great evil. It is a time to hold on to THE TRUTH and not let Him out of our sight. A time to remember that there is no opposite to God - He IS God, and He alone rules and reigns. EVERYTHING else is subject to Him.

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

The Lord is talking to people in captivity and exile, who are probably wondering where their God went to! In this chapter He encourages them to pray: "Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

We see here that while God is in charge, the people do not find themselves in a very comfortable place - doesn't that speak to us of our lives? However, God is encouraging them to work and pray EXACTLY WHERE THEY FIND THEMSELVES. He doesn't say put life on hold until everything is perfect, because WHEN WE DO THAT WE ARE ROBBED OF TODAY, AND BEGIN TO LOSE OUT ON LIFE ITSELF.

Jesus was the One who came to die for us and also to rise again from the dead and be seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven, and rule and reign in glory with Him.

Jesus was doing miraculous healings and seeing all kinds of wonders, at the same time as men were plotting to betray Him and kill him!

The prophet Isaiah foretold all of this in chapters 52,53,54, and they are full of both pain and promises. Those same chapters can be a map and guideline for us to understand what real life is all about.

THIS IS REAL LIFE - as long as we live in this world we will experience both good and bad, joy and sorrow. We live in a battle zone, and the battle is heating up. However, God remains on His throne, and HE IS OUR WAY THROUGH THIS ZONE, IF WE WILL HOLD ON TO HIS TRUTH HE WILL TRULY MAKE A WAY FOR US TO LIVE A REAL LIFE!

We need to have our minds transformed so that we begin to think differently to what we have been taught. We have been raised in a society that constantly seeks personal comfort, quick fixes, instant gratification. We have been trained to think that this is our object and goal, along with material prosperity.

GOD SPEAKS into the midst of this, and HE BEGINS TO SPEAK DIFFERENTLY!

"I know the plans I have for you …"

THERE IS SOMETHING BIGGER, SOMETHING WIDER, SOMETHING GREATER THAN THIS WORLD.

JESUS SPEAKS (Matt.6:25-34)

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink" or "What shall we wear"? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

BASICALLY HE IS SAYING - I know what I am doing, I know everything about you, and I don’t want you to worry about those things. I made you for relationship with me and I'm asking you to trust me, and understand the things that I hold in my heart for you.

Daniel 11:32(b) (Amplified Version) "…but the people who KNOW their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits (for God)."

OUR JOB IS TO LOVE GOD AND LOVE PEOPLE! If we do that He will take care of EVERYTHING ELSE.

THE OUTWARD FLOW

2007-09-13T09:18:00.001+12:00

The way God's creative power is released and works is astonishing. Recently I have begun a new area of work in the women's refuge with a scripture the Lord gave me at the start. When I asked for something to sustain me in this time He clearly spoke "John 15:16".

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name.

Because this call is one to touch lives and primarily to pray, the scripture covers absolutely EVERYTHING I need. I feel empowered to go, know there will be fruit of this time, and to ask with great boldness for what is needed in that place!

NEVER have I walked in such an empowering word before, I can feel it alive and active, strengthening me, giving me boldness, courage and faith. It is totally amazing and joyful.

This has led me to dig deeper, and yesterday as I prayed, I could feel the power of God's river running over and out of the areas that He has secured. It was within me, but outside of my strength and power, and I thought of the scripture I love so much in Ephesians 1:19,20.

…and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms.

There is this amazing flow of life-giving power from the Father (the creator of ALL things). This great power is released FOR us, and was exerted IN Christ to raise him up. I am seeing and experiencing something beyond what I have previously understood. This great power comes out of the Will and Heart of God, and is released FOR those who believe in Who and What God is. He reaches IN and has His way over EVERYTHING because our belief/faith makes a way for this great surge of life to flow.

This is not 'drummed up' faith because we think/know we need to have it to see something happen. No, this flow comes through, over and around, a peaceful and quiet knowledge and love of God. Not from a place of human strength and striving, but from the surrendered, submitted soul, spirit, life, of one who has TRULY given his/her life into the hands of their Maker.

The difference is like looking at a skillful, beautifully executed painting that is pleasing to look at, compared to a work of art that is less perfect and skilful, but pulsates with life, passion, and carries something of the very life of the artist.

We can sing a lovely song with a God-given lovely voice, but when the whole of the life is given back to God, that voice becomes HIS instrument through which He pours something that touches, moves, changes the hearts and lives of the listeners.

It is not about religious piety, but about LIVING with THE WAY,THE TRUTH, THE LIFE, HIMSELF.

His river flows over all the rough and uneven surfaces of our human lives, washing, cleansing, healing, smoothing rough edges. It flows on and outward as He begins to release this life FOR us, into our circumstances and world around us, into what we bring to Him in prayer.

Now we truly become prayer in a new way.

Whoever believes in Me, as the scripture has said, streams of living water shall flow from within him". By this He (Jesus) meant the Spirit whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. John 7:38,39.

PROCESS OF PRAYER

2007-09-08T11:05:00.001+12:00

THOUGHTS ON PRAYER 30.8.07

FEAR NOT FAITH

Many prayers arise out of fear of the outcome of the circumstances we find ourselves looking at.

We (finally) begin to speak these to God (and maybe in some cases this was His intention - to get our attention and some conversation!).

TWO-WAY CONVERSATION

Having prayed out of our fear and concern, we often then go on to do whatever WE can to fix things.

However, having opened conversation with God, it would be better t wait for His reply … could be an instruction, an action (His or ours) or the need to wait for His timing. We may sense a need to change our attitude or actions.

Most people don’t WAIT for His answer.

King David 'inquired of the Lord' and did what he was instructed with great results - most times! The bible account shows us how messy things got when he didn’t do that!

STRATEGIC PRAYER

Many times a situation arises and people start shooting off prayers as a response to it. This is rather like an army running on to a battle field in times past just shooting off arrows in all directions, sometimes wounding their fellow fighters.

Battles are won with wise strategy. Perhaps one, well placed big gun, carefully aimed, would accomplish much more with less loss of life.

PRAY IN THE SPIRIT AND WITH UNDERSTANDING

It is ok to talk to God AND to talk to one another, hearing God's wisdom through others, determining a strategy and a direction.

OPPOSITE SPIRIT

The enemy would like to draw us to fight on his terms - out of our frustration, fear, anger, pain. It is important to stop and come before the Lord about our response. There is a difference between raw anger and righteous indignation, between personal reaction and a burden arising from how God sees and feels about something.

E.g. Prayer against demonic assignments - His wisdom is to pray for the hurt and brokenness that brought people into these beliefs; for their healing and their salvation.

There is no weapon in the enemy's camp to fight the love of God.

LOVE IN ACTION

Prayer is love in action - love for God and love for each other - His creation.

This will be displayed with words and with actions - it is still prayer. Either way there is an outflow of this love towards God and others.

PRAYER CHANGES US

As we begin a life-time conversation with God, He begins to reveal Himself, His heart, and His ways. We begin to reflect what we are looking at. We begin to find His life and mind formed in us more and more each day.

PRAYER CHANGES THINGS, BUT MOST OF ALL IT CHANGES US…WE BECOME PRAYER.

All our thoughts, words, actions, and especially motives, begin to show that they've been in the fire of His presence regularly.

We begin to abide (live always) in the secret place (Psalm 91) and to know our refuge and shield personally.

We know that He contends for us and will keep us from all harm.

We KNOW His greatness, faithfulness, goodness, kindness, power and unfailing love.

FAITH NOT FEAR

NOW, we find ourselves praying out of faith and total trust in our God and His ability.

Now we begin to pray out of His wisdom and His word.

Now we 'pray believing' in the One who does the work and answers the prayers - we will receive answers and be amazed.

Daniel 11:32(b) (Amplified Version)

"…but the people who KNOW their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits (for God).

A MUST READ!

2007-08-21T09:21:00.000+12:00

There are times when someone gives expression to everything that is in your heart - well if you click on painters diary (in the right hand column of this blog) it will take you to something that everyone should read and then go away, get on their knees, and carefully consider. Yesterday Suzie and I had larger coffees than usual - if we were drinkers or smokers it would have been more than a caffeine fix - because our hearts are raw within us over what we are looking at - and full of despair at the fact that Christians are not stepping up to the mark - words won't do what feet, arms, eyes and hearts will do! Please read what she has expressed with incredible passion and clarity.

Luk 4:17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
Luk 4:18 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
Luk 4:19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."

DOING EXPLOITS!

2007-08-14T15:14:00.001+12:00

What is an exploit? The dictionary describes it as a 'brilliant feat'!

One of my favourite characters in the Bible is Phinehas - the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the High Priest who walked with Moses during the time of the Exodus of the Hebrew people from Egypt.

The amazing story of a man who was described by God as 'jealous with my jealousy' was a man who 'rose up' and did a mighty exploit for his God - read the whole story in Numbers 25.

This man did not compromise, neither was he afraid, when it came to serving his God.

Psalm 106:30 & 31 tell us:

Then stood up Phinehas (the priest) and executed judgement, and so the plague was stayed.

And that was credited to him for righteousness (right doing and right standing with God) to all generations forever.

The end result of this was that God made a covenant with Phinehas in Numbers 25:12

Behold I give to Phinehas, the priest, My covenant of peace.

25:13 And he shall have it, and his descendants after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.

God gave an amazing gift to Phinehas and we have proof that He kept His promise. Many generations later, we come to the book of Ezra. When God moved on the hearts of unsaved kings, and caused His people to return to rebuild His temple in Jerusalem, a wise and respected man comes on to the scene to take his important place in this task - Ezra - a descendent of Phinehas! God does not break His promises.

Ezr 7:6 ...this Ezra went up from Babylon. And he was a ready scribe in the Law of Moses, which Jehovah, the God of Israel had given. And the king granted him all he asked, according to the hand of Jehovah his God on him.

When we truly love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, we set in motion things that will benefit those we may never meet - because of God's great faithfulness.

STANDING IN A FIRM PLACE

2007-08-14T14:39:00.001+12:00

I sit here quietly considering this!

You are within me, You have my heart and life, and yet You also come near to me and I sit in Your presence.

I feel You as I walk, talk, read, pray. You don't withdraw Yourself from me, I just get distracted and forget to look for You.

As David wrote in Psalm 139 "Where can I go from Your presence...?" - nowhere!! If You are my 'all in all' then that is the fact.

Perhaps in some circumstances and times You are more easily known and recognised within me - nevertheless, You ARE there, in me.

When the price was paid I was purchased forever - You are now in possession of my life, my affections, my afflictions, my infirmities, my mistakes ... You smile and take them all with love.
I am Yours, always and everywhere.

Thomas Merton wrote:

"There is greater comfort in the substance of silence than in the answer to a question. Eternity is in the present. Eternity is in the palm of the hand. Eternity is a seed of fire whose sudden roots break barriers that keep my heart from being an abyss."

We have tended to pray as if God were at a distance, hard of hearing, and slow to understand!

He has been drawing us to a closer place, where we have His ear and can whisper, know His wise responses, and pray out of our knowledge and experience of Him, or simply rest in His greatness and ability.

Daniel 11b (Amplified Version) tells us that in the times of great hardship and pressure

"... the people who KNOW their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits (for God)."

It becomes 'up close and personal' - how will we stand firm unless we know where to stand and the One who stands there with us?

RAIN AND FIRE

2007-07-08T22:46:00.001+12:00

Today I saw the Lord again in the cloud. A cloud full of lightning, rumblings and fire. Yet He moves carefully and gracefully towards us. Even as He comes in this way, the fire is released and the rain falls.

The Lord was speaking and reminding me that that He keeps all His promises and will truly never leave or forsake us. I then saw the first rays of the sun coming up at dawn.

He then went on to say:

Know this!

In this day you will see fire and you will see rain, and you will most truly see that I am going to move again.

Know this!

You will stand amazed and you will fall down, for all that I have spoken WILL come to pass.

The valley of decision is full and there is now a time for those I have prepared – those who have allowed me to prepare them – to be sent forth in a way that the world has not seen before.

This will be a going out in the fullness of My love and power.

It will not be the words of man that change hearts and minds, but the demonstration of who I am, of My love and power that far surpasses earthly things.

This gathering will be into Me, for Me, through My power.

Much has been hidden from your eyes, the multitude who wait are greater than you could comprehend – for there has been a preparation in the Spirit, unseen but by My hand.

Be ready, and prepare others to be ready.

Come to Me for the words for this season.

Come to Me for the strong wine you will need for this time.

Make Me your daily bread and come and drink deeply of what I am beginning to pour out.

Come seeking me alone, and for the sake of those who cannot come themselves.

Luke 1:53 (Amp)

He has filled and satisfied the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty-handed (without a gift).

As it was with Mary, so it will be in this time, for I choose those who are humble and willing, whose hearts are truly turned towards me.

I am looking for stables, those unlikely quiet places that are not produced by vanity and selfish ambition.

I will surprise.

I will overtake, and

I will continue to be Sovereign.

Allow me to rule and reign in your heart. It is the heart I seek, far more than the mind.

Men have glorified the mind, and all the achievements it gives, but I cherish and pursue hearts, for there I can find a quiet place to rest, and there is where all I am can be birthed and made manifest.

Many will be passed by, for they have relied on their minds and allowed their hearts to grow cold.

For this reason I am telling you – look for the fire and the rain.

Run into the fire, stand in the rain, that you will be made ready to go into the valley.

Rev. 1:7

Behold He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall gaze upon Him and beat their breasts and mourn and lament over Him. Even so. Amen.

ANGELIC MESSENGERS

2007-07-08T22:45:00.001+12:00

The Lord allowed me to see angels descending carrying pages with writing on them.

These pages were pinned to the chests of various individuals.

This is what I heard Him saying:

My messengers are bringing to earth what has been already written and decreed in heaven.

This is being placed upon their hearts and will be the mark of true heavenly revelation.

The words will not be those of the men and women who speak them, but will ring with heaven’s truth and go forth anointed, causing astonishing effects in those who hear them.

The hearing will release visions and understanding

Will bring deliverance and healing,

And the hearers will be filled with love, peace, and that power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead.

These will be the signs that will follow the speaking of such words.

LOST BETWEEN THE TWO

2007-07-03T15:20:00.001+12:00

There is a call and an instruction for a time of confusion and trouble, when there are 'multitudes in the valley of decision'. This is how it reads in Joel 2:17 & 18:

Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the temple porch and the altar.

Let them say, "Spare Your people, O Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"

Then the Lord will be jealous for his land and take pity on his people.

I have thought much about what it means to be in this place between the porch and the altar in this modern time, especially as I see many called to a place they do not understand - somewhere between the religious church structure and those who simply live in the world with no knowledge or thought of God at all.

There are individuals, and whole groups of people, beginning to move into this place, many wondering how and why they have found themselves there!

Is it possible that in this day, as nations are invaded with much that is not of God's Kingdom, He is placing people in order that they will have a clear view and begin to cry out for Him to come and be the answer?

Is it possible that in this very moment, those who feel most displaced are actually being divinely placed?

Is it possible that in these days when there is no actual temple building and as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:16 "... For we are the temple of the living God..." that a place has been established for those who will cry out for the lost, the broken, the sons and daughters who have not yet found their Father and His family?

Maybe it is worth considering our position and our hearts today if we find ourselves somewhere between two places with no earthly way of reconciling this position or explaining it. Is it time to give a sacrifice of prayer and praise from this place, exactly as He asks?

PRAYER FROM THE HEART

2007-06-13T22:34:00.001+12:00

Dear Lord,

Give me the truths which are veiled by

the doctrines and articles of faith,

which are masked by the pious words

of sermons and books.

Let my eyes penetrate the veil

and tear off the mask,

that I can see your truth face to face

St. John of the Cross

PRAYING IN IRELAND

2007-06-05T22:36:00.000+12:00

EARLY BEGINNINGS:

It seems important to write down the whole story behind my journey to Ireland – the beginning of it in January 2006 is as significant as the eventual journey and is definitely linked to what took place. It is a speaking into the time in which we live. It was in the context of the Lord speaking about the time ahead, not just for NZ but for other nations, that He brought my attention to what He was doing in Ireland. He then brought it to my attention again at the beginning of 2007.
As I began to pray into what He was saying, I would see a place I knew to be in Dublin, and it was a cobbled street that swept round past an open square, and then went on up a hill. He was also speaking about the lives of people I knew in Dublin at the same time, and began to make His own links in this regard.
In the same week the financial provision for the journey came, I met a young man from Dublin who knew where the cobbled street was and confirmed its location to me.
With this in mind I have included all that I was given for the year 2006 and onwards at the end of this journal.

THOUGHTS OF PREPARATION AND JOURNEY
Hosea 2:19-23 was given as a scripture for both a time of intercession and ministry in New Zealand, and to be carried as a word into Ireland. The Amplified Bible gives this version of the verses:

21. And in that day I will respond, says the Lord; I will respond to the heavens (which ask for rain to pour on the earth), and they shall respond to the earth (which begs for the rain it needs).
22. And the earth shall respond to the gain and the wine and the oil (which beseech it to bring them forth), and these shall respond to Jezreel (restored Israel who prays for a supply of them).
23. And I will sow her for Myself anew in the land, and I will have love, pity and mercy for her who had obtained love, pity and mercy; and I will say to those who were not My people, You are My people, and they shall say, You are my God!

As I prayed ahead of the journey the following emerged:
I see the vapour/smoke lingering over the land. The Lord has allowed the land to come to the end of spiritual strength and He is beginning to move freshly in His great strength.
The fresh wind of His Spirit will begin to blow away the dry dust of old religion and new life will come forth in its place.
I felt that as in the time of Hezekiah, the Lord was beginning to restore and to call back a priesthood into a consecrated lifestyle. The Lord is dealing with ‘remnants’ in this time.

The picture continued to grow of a faithful remnant seeking God. Those who are willing to look beyond the grave clothes (the death of the known and familiar) into the inexhaustible power of God displayed in the resurrection power that connects us to eternity – it continues forever.

On the day that I flew into Dublin, the Lord was speaking to me of man as a mist/vapour and temporary, but the cumulative vapour of lives laid down has great affect. This is the work of a continual remnant who pursue and will not let go of their God and His Spirit.

Temple Bar
I stood and prayed in the very place that I had seen in the spirit for so long. It is in Temple Bar in Dublin city. There is a prophetic deposit in this area that is yet to be fulfilled, and God’s glory will be seen in this area. Even as it was proclaimed in the first performances of Handel’s Messiah in this very area, there will be an outpouring of something that totally glorifies God again. It feels as if the enemy has tried to swamp Temple Bar with darkness to prevent this coming to pass, but the Lord will fulfill His purpose here.

Skellig Michael
In the very south of Ireland, it was an amazing discovery to find that on Skellig Michael, 7 kms off the coast from Ballinskelligs, a monastic community lived and prayed for 5 centuries, and then established a community on the very edge of the sea as they moved back to the mainland. There is a palpable sense of the area having been soaked in prayer even now, and it seemed that off this foundation there was a wave to be ridden from the south to the north of Ireland. It was wonderful to find a prayer room established here, and the name of the Lord over the house where it has been built.

Riding the Wave
In travelling it felt like being on the foaming front of a wave that never quite broke. And yet, as it moved across the land, its water seeped into old forgotten springs and wells, causing them to come to the surface again and begin to freshly release water.

Rebuilding and Restoration
The Lord was speaking to me from Ezra 3, and asking me to look for the sounds of building. In this day He is rebuilding something that seemed to be lost forever, and the sounds are not what we would expect to hear in the natural, but rather the sounds that were heard when the foundations of the temple were relaid and the altar rebuilt. There were three specific sounds mentioned:
Shouts of praise
Weeping
Shouts of joy
We are told that no-one could distinguish between these sounds because the noise they created was so loud, and the sound was heard far away. May we have ears to hear the sounds of building as they begin.

God moving in power off the foundation of the past
In Ballymoney, I was about to go to sleep when I saw a vision of a train coming out of a tunnel at great speed, right in my face! It passed and I could see into the incredibly long tunnel it had come from. The Lord asked me to walk into the tunnel with Him, as if looking back to where the train had originated. I did not reach its end before falling asleep.

In this northern part of Ireland the Lord was speaking to me of this nation and others where people had suffered famine, oppression, devastation, but were about to bring forth fire.
It was a picture of all of creation groaning, and the manifestation that results. There is a birthing of a new people in God, and a new and passionate devotion to Him. For these people the nations are their home – not any one place, but all the places He opens doors to. This will break down walls and barriers of territorial spirits that have held the church and nations captive.

Golden Rain
I saw drops of golden rain falling, softly and almost unnoticed, but they contained the very substance of heaven. Even as water finds its way into dry ground, so these drops will do the same. They will find their way into places that do not expect, or see, the Spirit in this time.
This is His Kingdom touching earth and transforming every place and person it touches. This will not look like previous revival or moves of God’s Spirit – this is thicker oil that penetrates deeply and cannot be washed off or wiped away. It penetrates, sticks, is completely absorbed – this is a far deeper work than has been seen before.

The Lord was speaking out of Hosea 10 – the result of doing well in our own strength!
Hosea 10:12 – the antidote to current religiosity – this is what brings forth the rain.
Hosea 2:19-23 – God’s promise to those who have been willing to go into the place He calls them to.

SUMMARY
Thoughts on Ireland and Prayer
Rode a wave from the south to the north of Ireland.
Beginning in Glendalough, carrying on through Temple Bar, Dublin, it was from Ballinskelligs that the wave began to roll forward.
Glendalough was a fountain, Temple Bar a precious deposit, and the Skelligs produced a wave of ancient prayer.
The voices that were heard by God alone on Skellig Michael cannot be silenced, for His praises were heard and erupted into the heavenlies over Ireland for centuries.
It seemed we rode on the face of a spiritual wave that moves with power and has not yet run out.
The foaming edge of this wave now touches and erupts again in the north, in Coleraine which has seen this power touch it before, and in the places where springs and wells of God’s Spirit are being re-opened in this day.

I see the weariness of the land in Ireland, but I also see the wave going over it, re-activating the ancient fountains and wells, causing them to open and bubble up to give freshness and life again.
I see people, separated by God Himself for the work of this time.
I see and emergence of those He is calling for Himself in these days – their allegiance is to God alone and they know they are His.
These ones will ride the wave, they will know its power, provision, and His presence.
The wave bubbles and foams at its edge, it is effervescent and gives life.

It is as if the deep foundations of prayer laid in early centuries are now being poured out again over the land, and this is beginning to produce people who once again are willing to move out to the edge of all that is known in order to hold purely to God and all that they hold precious in them. The wave is reproducing after its own kind. They are breaking out of religiosity and the social norms or take up a new position in Jesus. They move away from the existing order to hold to what is pure and true – alive and not religious. This protects the future.

Those who are privileged to ride this wave must never forget it’s source – for He is their Way, Life and Truth, and should be careful to remember and honour those who laboured in love to bring it forth. These two things will hold them safe in the foaming forefront of this mighty wave.

PRAYER
Lord teach us to pray … not the selfish prayers of men, but the selfless speaking of a heart captivated by You alone; words spoken to You alone; lives lived for You alone. Words that erupt in silence out of hearts given only to You, free from judgment and malice, from envy and dissatisfaction. A pouring forth out of hearts focussed on heaven; out of lives lived for Christ alone – His glory their great hope. Lord show us the power of prayer brought forth from the altar, from lives laid down and lived sacrificially, not for human gain, but given over to what is eternal, born out of eternity set in the hearts of men and women.

Wisdom To Contend For The Faith In 2006 (January 2006)

“….I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” Jude 3(b)

As I have sat before the Lord reviewing the past year, and seeking direction for the one ahead, the following have emerged with great emphasis. He led me first into the book of Jude, and then into 1 Corinthians, chapters 1 and 2.

…You dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 20 & 21.

2006 will be the beginning of a great call to 'contend for our faith' which will be tried and tested as never before.
Alongside this there will be a release of astonishing grace and strength as enabling to do this. This is a year to eagerly desire spiritual gifts and to esteem the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives
This is a year to pursue Godly wisdom and to be taught by the Spirit of God.

WISDOM

A message for all.
In the past two weeks I have felt Him quietly emphasising the importance of wisdom, Godly wisdom as opposed to the wisdom of this world. I believe this will be required in large measure in the days ahead. 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 explains that “Jews look for miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”

1 Corinthians 12:7&8
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom…..
The first manifestation of the Holy Spirit mentioned is the gift of the word (or message) of wisdom.
Have we sought this a eagerly as the manifestation of healing, miracles, prophecy? I believe the Lord is drawing our attention to this as we enter a new year.

I felt the Lord was encouraging us to find the tools needed for contending. There are new ways to be learned. "It is written.." will taken on new meaning to many who will discover just how powerful and accurate the Word of God is. The Word Himself is coming ever closer to taking up His throne in this world. Do we know the values and principles of His Kingdom even better than those of this world? Chapters 11 and 12 of Luke's gospel are most worthy of our attention at this time.

PICTURE OF A PEOPLE GATHERED TOGETHER, WATCHING AND WAITING – LOOKING INTO THE DISTANCE.
It appeared we are in transition to a new age, we need to keep the wineskins wet and flexible. Only eternity in our hearts, the knowledge of having entered into a new realm that is not finite, but forever in Him, will help us look ahead beyond this world to His coming, and enable us to live accordingly. More than ever we need to know and believe that He has placed eternity in our hearts.

I felt great concern for those who continue to look at and concern themselves with the works of darkness as they are in danger of being consumed by what they look at. I feel the Lord would encourage us all to look up and see Him, the One WHO IS ABLE to do more than we can ask or imagine – we MUST see Him on the throne. As Jude writes "He is able to do all that is required to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

I feel He is encouraging us to SEE HIM, SEE HIS KINGDOM, KNOW HIM, KNOW HIS POWER AND WISDOM.

I SEE HIM STANDING DRESSED AS THE LORD OF HOSTS WITH HIS GREAT SWORD AT HIS SIDE.

As I looked at this, He began to give me GLIMPSES INTO VARIOUS NATIONS.

New Zealand
I felt the warm glow of the Lord's affection, the great love in His heart, for New Zealand as a nation. This had nothing to do with our current state spiritually, but everything to do with the love of a Father for His children, that pours out affection to them and embraces them, even the prodigals.

Ireland
I saw something that looked like columns of steam/smoke arising from a long crack in the ground. It brought with it a sense of something ancient being released out of the soil of Ireland. It was like gas that once ignited becomes a flame that cannot be put out. As I watched it burst into flames that lept high above the land.

INTERNATIONAL
I saw huge willow trees bending low over a stream. They began to shed their leaves that fell like a shower into the stream. The 'weeping willows' seem to represent a time in autumn when there will be a reason for weeping and letting go of what has grown in the summer. The trees live on but there is a shedding of all that they have carried into the stream of God's purpose. These are big, solid trees, with roots going down deep into the soil.
I felt there would be a redistribution of ministry and activity to better suit what is coming and it was necessary to let go even if it hurts!

I then saw the stream frozen over in winter, but beneath its surface many little fish darting around, it was full of life. What appeared like nothing at all was only the beginning of growth and life that would emerge in the spring.

I saw a large bear (which represents the cruel, crushing one) walk over the frozen stream, but it passed on over, not affecting the life below the frozen water. Everything that was life was hidden and protected.

I saw tiny flowers begin to melt the ice and emerge – spring came swiftly and with great joy.

I sense that this great change will feel to many as if winter is all there is. Be encouraged that because our God is faithful, spring and summer will surely come.

Australia
There was a picture of many tiny shapes moving busily across and around the nation. This is a time of productivity and growth. I felt the Lord would remind His people not to let this obscure their sight of Him, remembering that growth is given by Him in order to produce fruit.

Tahiti
I saw huge, beautiful flowers, blossoming in abundance over and above Tahiti. There was a sense that something very good for the Pacific would blossom out of Tahiti this year.

England
Just like last year, I saw again the rivers of people flowing through the streets of England. What began last year will continue to flow and grow. It is impossible to give a picture of the compact strength that is portrayed in what I see, and how tightly the people flow together – it is amazing.

COLD & ICY HEARTS

Many feel this is their current state, cold and hard. I feel the Lord is encouraging all to draw near to the love of God and let this warmth melt their hearts. It is not what we can do, feel, or accomplish, but the knowledge that He alone gives life, and is truly our Way, Truth, and Life, that will take us back into the fire. He is encouraging us to invite Him to do His work in our lives.

A COMMISSIONING OF HIS OWN

I saw people gathering around Jesus as Lord of Hosts. They were kneeling down before Him and He took His great sword and gently touched the shoulders with the words "You are Mine". There is a commissioning taking place now for what is to come. On our knees at His feet is a good place to be.

INEXHAUSTIBLE GREATNESS

2007-04-26T10:47:00.000+12:00

Today I feel as though I have been given a glimpse of something amazing that fills me with wonder! It is the INEXHAUSTIBLE GREATNESS OF GOD - it never runs out but continues for all time, all eternity. EVERYTHING that stands in the way of our seeing and receiving from all that He is truly is just a VAIN IMAGINATION.
Because He created everything, He knows everything, and EXACTLY HOW IT WORKS, that includes you and me - He wrote the handbook! He knows how we run, and He knows how to fix us, because He knows every part of each one of us.

Lord, when I look at You and begin to KNOW YOU, I can begin to KNOW MYSELF because I am made in your image. You are the blueprint for all I am and all of my life.

Help me today to fix my eyes not of what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Cor. 4:18).
Today Lord, I find ALL MY ANSWERS IN YOU.
Today I reach heavenward and to Your throne, for YOU ARE MY ALL IN ALL.
You truly are THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE. I agree with you "I AM' and I say "Yes, YOU ARE".

(2 Cor.10:13)
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have DIVINE POWER to demolish strongholds.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Today I bring EVERYTHING (thought, problem, situation) and place it under Your feet Jesus.
EVERYTHING tha argues with Your INEXHAUSTIBLE GREATNESS is brought low, pulled down, before the knowledge of God and of His Son, Jesus Christ, and of His Holy Spirit.

This is my warfare Lord, to place YOU before, over, and greater, than anything else FOREVER AND ALWAYS.
There is nothing greater than You, CREATOR AND SUSTAINER OF MY LIFE.
I choose to take hold of the truth of Your Word into my life today "THE RIGHTEOUS WILL LIVE BY FAITH". (Gal.3:11b).
Yes, I will live my life in the knowledge and love of my God, and by faith in HIS INEXHAUSTIBLE GREATNESS.
Amen.

PROPHETIC QUESTION

2007-04-09T10:41:00.000+12:00

Last night I heard a prophetic question posed to the church, and to each of us individually, from Luke 24:5
“WHY DO YOU LOOK FOR THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD?”

Many are standing staring at the grave clothes, or digging in the ashes and ruins of what has passed.
They no longer find Jesus in the place that they had known or thought Him to be.
They stand ‘perplexed and wondering’ as the women in Luke 24:4.
This is the place of one of God’s SUDDENLIES.
“…behold two men in dazzling raiment SUDDENLY stood beside them”.
Their place of despair was SUDDENLY a place of angelic visitation.
Mary was sobbing in her anguish (John 20:14 Amp) when she TURNED AROUND and Jesus was standing there!

We need to learn to turn around.
To take our gaze off what is only a remnant of death, and of a passing from old to new.
It is time to fix our gaze on the living, risen, Jesus Christ, who standing OUTSIDE THE TOMB.

David’s prophetic Psalm 22 tells us of the time we live in:

22:27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations shall bow down and worship before you.
22:28 For the kingship and the kingdom are the Lord’s and He is the ruler over nations.
22:29 All the mighty ones upon earth shall eat (in thanksgiving) and worship;
All they that go down to the dust shall bow before Him,
Even He who cannot keep Himself alive.
22:30 Posterity shall serve Him, they shall tell of the Lord to the next generation.
22:31 They shall come and declare His righteousness to a people yet to be born
- that He has done it (that it is finished!).

This prophetic word has spanned the centuries and is still continuing to be fulfilled.
It is time to look at THE TRUTH, THE WAY, THE LIFE as He stands among the living with the desire to give life.

THE DIFFERENCE IS ALSO THE LINK

2007-02-26T17:41:00.000+13:00

As we move further into this year I am constantly encountering circumstances that convince me that 'the walls are coming down'. It is as if the Lord is at work making a beautiful garment for His Bride.
I am reminded that the garment Jesus wore was seamless, and it seems to me that He is weaving something seamless and wonderful now for the Bride, and it is truly the work of His hands.

Sometimes it feels as if He is saying to us that He let us do the best we could, and now He is showing us the best He can do for us.
Walls are coming down - denominational, cultural, traditional, gender, age - all these things are being redefined and we are being challenged as to where we stand and how we view one another.

This past week I had the privilege of praying at an event where people of many different races, traditions, and lifestyles were gathered. I stood looking out over a gathering of some 10,000 people, all shapes, sizes, colours, and ages. Some were walking with Jesus, and many did not know anything about Him.
I found myself weeping before the Lord for my brothers and sisters, the ones He had created that did not yet know Him, the ones who belong in this family and are missing from it.

I felt so at one with all who were there, and the only difference between them and me was Jesus, who in an instant of time could become the link between us if we would allow it.

Many in the crowd had lived lifestyles different to mine because they had been born into different families and circumstances, but we all have the same creator, and if we will acknowledge Him, the very same Father.

This beautiful seamless garment He is weaving in our time is put together when the difference becomes the link - when Jesus enters into a heart, and the child becomes part of an amazing family, no longer lonely, no longer lost, no longer without hope, but now joined together with all who have the same hope - Christ IN us, the hope of glory, the promise of eternity, the link that makes this family strong.

WATCH FOR THE BIRDS!

2007-01-25T17:21:00.000+13:00

Today I believe the Lord is admonishing His people to STAY WITH THE SACRIFICE.
I believe the Lord is speaking to many of His people in the place of waiting today.
Many have walked in obedience and done what He asked of them, but have not yet seen the fruit of that labour.
He gave me revelation out of the story about Abraham that is wonderful instruction for us in this hour.

Genesis 15:8
Abram asked God how he could know that he would gain possession of the land God had spoken to him about.
HE WANTED TO KNOW HOW HE COULD REALLY KNOW WHAT THE LORD WAS SAYING WAS TRUE.
The Lord’s response in v.9 is that He asks Abram to bring him "a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon."
IT WAS GOING TO COST ABRAM SOMETHING, THERE WAS WORK TO BE DONE FOR THE LORD.

Abram brought all these to the Lord, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds however he did not cut in half.
THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN MESSY, BLOODY, HARD WORK.

THEN the birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away!
THERE IS A STRONG MESSAGE HERE FOR GOD’S PEOPLE.
Many have given an offering or sacrifice to the Lord in answer to His call. Many have laboured long and hard in obedience to lay something out before the Lord.

WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THE BIRDS OF PREY WILL COME.
There will be actions and words that seem to totally negate all that we have done, that seem to cut right across it or act as if it was never done at all. The enemy will mock our efforts, our vision, our obedience.

BUT ABRAM DROVE THEM AWAY.
We must look for what is of God and God alone. He encourages, strengthens, guides, comforts, and loves us!

As the sun was setting (at the END OF THE DAY) Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.
THEN the Lord said to him:
"Know for certain …" God began to assure Abram of his future and of his plans for future generations. Vv13-16.
When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed
between the pieces.
ON THAT DAY the Lord made a COVENANT with Abram about the land He was giving to him.

Today many are waiting on the Lord for the fulfillment and confirmation of visions and calls. There is much here to learn and note:

The Lord came to Abram in a DARK CLOUD (not in the way he would perhaps have expected).
The Lord spoke and explained HIS PROCESS.
The Lord spoke of RESTORATION in the 4th generation – He is long-term in his thinking!
The Lord promised Abram PEACE.
The Lord ACCEPTED HIS SACRIFICE.
The Lord made a COVENANT PROMISE.

THEN is a wonderful word when we come across it in the scriptures … there is always more to come!
I truly believe the Lord would encourage us to hold on in this day. To keep watch over what has been done in His Name and at His bidding. Drive off discouragement and negativity. Hold on for that moment when God will come and accept and bless what has been laid out for Him.