THE TURNING TIDE

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 .....

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 ...

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

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

 

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!

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

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 ....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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...."

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

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.