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.