The day with dianne Louise

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” John‬ ‭13‬:‭34‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I just awoke from a dream in which I was going camping with church friends. I had made a last minute decision and asked the two men if I might travel with them and share their accomodation. This had caused another friend to be bumped from the same arrangement. That friend was visibly upset, but I was going to do what I planned because I needed it.  Selfishness and compromise won out in my heart. Awareness that I was not considering her or my parents lingered in the background. Obviously this dream is not about me, I am 72 and my parents are long dead. However, the girl in the dream I recognise. She has a lot of this sort of behaviour thrown on her plate. On Sunday she had been rejected from the worship team. She was very upset because she was told she sang flat. She did not believe that was the case. However, in any church we have a mix that ‘get...

“Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ What Paul is describing here is the truth about the Christian life. When we come to Jesus we are set free from the bondage of sin. Baptism is the symbol of us putting to death the flesh. Now we can live, by faith, in the work Jesus wrought for us, in resurrected, new life. Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so are we. There is power in the blood of Jesus. His death was not an empty act, the power that raised Him from the dead is ours. The same Holy Spirit raises us up to new life. We can walk in that power.  The daily challenge is to walk in that power, stay in the zone (as Pastor Phil...

“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.”  Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I find myself awake in the wee hours aware of my ‘casual conversation’ with friends at lunch and afternoon coffee. Why did I need to talk about people? Why not be aware of our roles to build one another up? At one point I sensed the Holy Spirit cautioning me, ‘be very careful!’ I heeded His instruction. However, in hindsight I needed it way before He gave it. Why discuss people? Casual conversation is so dangerous, it can be so destructive. Casual conversation very easily becomes proud and judgemental. What m...

“Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭126‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬ This psalm was one of the psalms of ascent, written for the return of the children of Israel from captivity. They had been 70 years in Babylon, a foreign land. Daniel had read the scripture and knew it was time for them to return. He went to prayer and after three weeks and angel came to tell him his prayers were answered. He did not go back with those who returned, by this time he was an old man and had served in the kings court. Imagine returning home after 70 years. I am 72 and to have spent all that time in a foreign land and knowing I was returning to a land God gave to His people and where He resided would have been special. I would have grown up hearing the stories from afar. Yet I would return to a land that had been descimated by the same enemy who took me captive. Going out to once again sow grain, ...

“Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.”  James‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Jesus’ brother James wrote these words. He did not have foreknowledge for Jesus’ return but he anticipated it with hope. He likens the wait to the farmer, who has to depend on rain for his crop to come to harvest. I hail from a farming community and have seen the need first hand. The whole community is affected by a drought and likewise they rejoice in an abundant rain at the right time. As we see the times we live in and carry the burden of its outcome we pray in hope for Jesus’ return. His return seems imminent, yet the Father is the one to call it. He knows when all He wants has come into the kingdom. My impatience only frustrates me.  Rather I should apply mysel...

“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.”  1 Corinthians‬ ‭16‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬ There are times when I must pray, “Jesus please cover me”. These are times when I have been unwise. I have said it done things in a way that could cause a problem. At these times I have asked the Lord to cover me with His grace and He does. I must be on guard with what I allow. The enemy wants to steal and destroy. I cannot give my free time to read, listen to, or watch what does not edify my spirit. There is too much rubbish. Rubbish infects and pollutes my spirit with wrong standards. If I am to stand strong in these last days I must stand firm in my faith. I must have the courage of my convictions. I cannot water them down. I must be strong in what God has called me to do. I cannot be lukewarm. This causes Him displeasure. I must live for His pleasure. Amen!