Signposts

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

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

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

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

Incoming Tide ...

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!

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

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

 

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 :)

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

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

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

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

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

 

Y A Y !

POLISHED ARROWS

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

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

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

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

This is what the Lord says:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ALL THAT SHE WAS MOURNING WAS STANDING THERE ALIVE!

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

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

BECAUSE HE LIVES, all these things are possible.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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