The day with dianne Louise

I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Ephesians 3:16,17 The scripture is full of love if we can but see it. Our God loves us so much that He longs to impute to us His strength in our inner being. I can be strong mentally, I can be strong physically but if I am strong in my inner being then I can stand against anything that comes my way. This strength comes from Him. I must live out of this well, not my mental capacity or my physical stature because the strength in my inner man is pure and undefiled. All other strength leads to self-righteousness and arrogance yet both of these when controlled by the spirit are humble and not spruiked about. The strength from the spirit brings life to all around us but the flesh brings condemnation and stench. Christ dwells in my heart through my faith. As I yield more and more to Him, as I trust Him and lean on Him my f...

His (God's) intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm Ephesians 3:10 My mind imagines the foul beasts that endeavour to control the heavens being really irked by God's people as they move as one under Christ the head. What we fail to realise is that as we practice the 'deep magic' as CS Lewis put it in the Tales of Narnia we pull down the works of darkness. Their buttresses and towers come crashing down as the saints of God walk in faith, truth and love. Our God, who is for us, watches with delight. We release such authority into the spirit realm as we practise truth and authority for righteousness to be established over all. The Kingdom of God takes territory from the enemy as we are faithful to marriage, friends, business relationships, family. No weapon can stand against the mighty army of God's people walking in truth washed in the blood of the lamb. The truth...

In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit. Ephesians 2:21,22 He is building us, it is He who draws us to maturity. I remember having an ambition to produce a stained glass window. It was a reasonably large project and I gave a year to it. I had to choose my design, choose my glass, draw out the design as a template and begin to cut the glass to fit that template. The finished product was a work of art. My God takes His time in crafting His house. He chooses His people with a view of what He will do with them, begins to work on them, cutting out the shape He has in mind. He then places us in His masterpiece. The leadlight held my glass pieces together, He is the glue that holds us together, He provided the nails. The important thing we, the pieces, have to remember it is He who builds and it is He who matures and grows us up into His house....

For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two (Jew and Gentile) one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law with it's commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace and in this one body to reconcile them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. Ephesians 2:14-16 This act of love not only set the Jew free but invited the Gentile into relationship with God. The Jew had grown up under a burden of law and Jesus fulfilled the law's requirements by dying on the cross. Paul is saying 'all the old is finished, completed'. Have you ever finished paying a debt and perhaps it has taken several years and during that time you have struggled to meet the repayments, they have seemed onerous but you have made it? When the final payment was made what a release you felt. Now wouldn't it be crazy to keep on making those payments ...

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 1:10  I come back to this verse as the whole scripture is full of richness but this is sticking out to me. There is a task I am destined for, there are things that the Lord has uniquely allotted to me. When I was a child my mother would take me to the dressmaker and have a dress made, tailored just for me. I remember one such dress, a formal dress for a special occasion. The material was a shiny blue, I loved it, it made me feel like a princess. That dress would fit me better than anyone else because it was made to measure. It suited my blue eyes, it made me shine. The dress was lovingly crafted just for me. Getting the picture? My God loves me so much more and He has crafted works that He knows I am the perfect fit for, I shine in them, they suit me down to a tee. Each one of us is so loved by our God, He has chosen works that are such a blessing in ou...

You are saved by grace! Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens, so that in coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace through His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift- Ephesians 2:5-9 I am so, so grateful that I do not have to earn my salvation. Jesus was perfect and he paid the perfect sacrifice so that I can live in the results of that grace, freedom, exaltation and relationship. I don't know about you but every time I feel self-righteous I have been doing something to earn my salvation. It stinks and I have to repent because there is nothing I can do that comes near what He has done. I cannot crucify Him again or say His sacrifice does not cut it. The difference is I am saved for good works. I am set free from having to earn my salvation so that I can, in freedom, be His ambassador. I have something I am meant to do in the Kin...

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient. Ephesians 2:1,2 I remember the first time I watched 'The Matrix' I saw a picture of how the 'ruler of the lower heavens, Satan' blinds the eyes of many so that they do not see truth. The graphic illustration of how the enemy binds and blinds was so real. The humans in that story were bred in capsules so that they would provide energy for the robots. When we walk in blindness to the freedom in Christ that is offered we provide our enemies an outlet for living. Without Christ we are taken over by various lusts, habits, attitudes and cannot break free, we are in fact in bondage and needing a saviour. Christ sets us free from being used and if we again find ourselves in that place we can go to Him for forgiveness and deliverance. The reason forg...

He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavens - far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church, which is His body the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way. Ephesians 1:20-23 Our God is supreme, He is over all. He has power over death, 'death could not hold Him down'. Jesus, by His obedient sacrifice was raised over all. There is no authority that can touch Him, He is above it. We constantly see, in the news, various so called leaders in various nations who are full of their own importance. They are there because God allows it, with a flick of His finger they are removed. We also hear various voices who profess they know greater than God, they state that God is an illusion, a crutch, a prop for weak men, yet they...

When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13,14 When we were growing up we discovered boundaries. Our mum or dad would say 'stay here with me and do not run on the road'. Who of you ever disobeyed and ran on the road? Suddenly a car appears and you are vulnerable, very frightened and wanting like anything to be back by your parent's side and safe. When we come to Christ and believe we are given a seal of His Holy Spirit, as long as we acknowledge that seal we are safe. He is our boundary. It is not that we never do anything exciting, we do. In fact the Holy Spirit will lead us on some dangerous and exciting adventures but as long as we stay with Him and not lose our head and run off into the road we are safe. The Holy Spirit is the down payment. ...

He made known to us the the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that He planned in Him, for the administration of the days of fulfillment - to bring everything together in the Messiah, both things in heaven and things on earth in Him Ephesians 1:9,10 Ever had the experience when you were growing up and had, perhaps been away for a length of time and you return and your dad looks different. You both know that there is a difference and your dad begins to talk to you like an adult. You discover there are things you never knew about your dad, you realise there is a mystery surrounding this man you have lived with all your life. After you have had you say about where you have been and the things you have learned your dad speaks to you about His vision for the future, what He would like for you in it. If He is a wise dad he would be aware for the need to allow you to grow into adulthood and discover your own path and know how he could be a blessing in that time. We have a ...

We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:7,8 This is it folks! This is what it is all about. His blood, spilt for us, poured out for us is the key. I have been let loose from prison, my chains are broken because He decided to set me free. All I have done that was wrong, all I currently do and all I will do is forgiven not so I can go willfully sinning because I don't. I am so grateful that I am free from the price of sin. Before I knew Him there was a penalty for my wrong and I carried the burden of guilt in my soul. Now I am free from the clutches of guilt. I have the gift of repentance and I am able to use it whenever and as often as I need it, it is mine and cannot be taken away. I have this because His grace is so rich and full, a fountain continually flowing, never stopping is there in my life. He gave me this is all wisdom and u...

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. For He chose us before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before His sight. Ephesians 1:3,4 We can allow the above scripture to condemn us yet that is not the intention. God had a plan and the plan involved us coming to know Him through what His Son bought for us at the cross. Jesus bought the right for us to belong, He paid for us to be holy and blameless because of Him not we ourselves. I cannot add one dot of holiness to my life for when I strive to be holy I walk in the flesh and self righteousness results. uug! Suddenly I am good in my own eyes but not under the blood in His. If the Father saw it right that His Son pay the price then He knows us well. I am now holy because of grace not of works 'lest any man/woman should boast.' Last night I had dinner with a dear friend who is driven to do good works, I would love her to fi...

I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the perception of your mind might be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength. Ephesians 1:16-19 What a passage, what a blessing, what a passion. I am looking forward to talking to Paul, his passion inspires me, his dedication, his zeal, his focus propels me. That you might know the hope of His calling. What has He (God) called you to? You are not here for someone else's pleasure, for someone else's use. You are called by God to do something. Are you fulfilling that call? As a Christian we are given a torch to show the way. In a song by Brooke Fraser she says 'a...

But we would like to hear from you what you think. For concerning this sect (Jesus), we are aware that it is spoken against everywhere. Acts 28:22 The Jews perception regarding the message about Christ was different than if you spoke to the Gentiles who gladly received the good news. When we were outside Christ, some of us perhaps were already in a church but did not know the Lord as our personal saviour. I was. I began life as a zealous catholic. I would argue with the born again Christians because I had been taught that the catholic way was the only way. Yet when the light did come I received it gladly. My zeal was to know the Lord anyway but was trying to go down the wrong path. Paul would understand because he was zealous for his Jewish religion before he met Christ however he knows the difficulty he faced. In verse 26 he quotes Is 6:9,10. 'for the hearts of these people have grown callous, their ears hard of hearing..' The message of Christ comes to set us free, truly...

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, 'Have courage! For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.' Acts 23:11 Like Jesus, Paul knew he was in for a difficult time. Up to this point those that knew him prophesied that he was walking into danger by going back to Jerusalem, however, his spirit told him he must go and he was prepared for the outcome. At difficult times the Lord will Himself come, send an angel or a messenger with a word of encouragement. The Lord had put in Paul the conviction that he must go and that whatever the outcome the Lord would be with him. Paul's friends and associates would have wondered at his commitment. However, like Christ his face was set like a flint, to Rome, nothing would dissuade him. Praise God for the Holy Spirit who is steel within us when we are facing turbulence but know we must stand, or we must move forward. There is no time for pity parties, second guessing, there only time fo...

You yourselves know that these hands have provided for my needs and for those who were with me. In every way I've shown you that by labouring like this, it is necessary to help the weak and to keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, for He said, 'It is more blessed to give than receive.' Acts 20:34,35 As I read this passage a question arises, 'who are the weak?' Paul does not tell us. Are they weak in faith and therefore need caring for or weak in flesh and also needing more hands on care. Paul, in Corinthians talks about not abusing a brother who is weak in faith by eating meat that had been offered up to idols. In another place he talks about those who can eat vegetables only because of their weak faith. Obviously this is a term frequently used by Paul. Although he does not say 'weak in faith' here, he does elsewhere. Perhaps he is referring to the same thing. Irregardless it is more blessed to give than receive. I love to give and enjoying blessing ...

And now I commit you to God and to the message of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified. Acts 20:32 God's message of grace liberates, builds, gives vision, empowers. Only grace can do this. Grace says 'look this is how I made you, this is the plan I have for you, step out, you can do it.' Last night I went to see a client and friend and challenged her with 'what would you do if you knew you could not fail?' She replied 'work with animals.' She currently works for her brother, in his office, who does not respect her or honour her. When Jesus said he had come to give us life and life abundantly, He was talking about freedom from abuse, judgement, ridicule. Jesus wants to set us free to be who we are wired to be. I said to my friend 'you cannot live in fear of failure or lack of finance and never try.' Yesterday I watched a webinare and was challenged myself to market myself proactively...

Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. And when they came to him, he said to them: 'You know, from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time-serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, and with trials..........and I did not shrink back from proclaiming to you anything that was profitable.....'Acts 20:17-20 Paul had given his all for the sake of the gospel and now knew he was going to Jerusalem to be bound in chains but he was happy, he had done his job. There is a saying 'it is not how you starts that counts but how you end.' all of us have a rocky time, mostly at the beginning, some lose their way in the middle through discouragement but the saddest of all is those who end their days away from the Lord. It is not the 4 score and 10 we have here that this life is all about. We are in training for eternity. If we get caught up in the pleasures of now and continue to live for now then we lose our eter...

Psalms 138:1-8 (MSG) 1 A David psalm Thank you! Everything in me says "Thank you!" Angels listen as I sing my thanks. 2 I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: "Thank you!" Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness; Most holy is your name, most holy is your Word. 3 The moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength. 4 When they hear what you have to say, God, all earth's kings will say "Thank you." 5 They'll sing of what you've done: "How great the glory of God!" 6 And here's why: God, high above, sees far below; no matter the distance, he knows everything about us. 7 When I walk into the thick of trouble, keep me alive in the angry turmoil. With one hand strike my foes, With your other hand save me. 8 Finish what you started in me, God. Your love is eternal—don't quit on me now.   Do you ever have days of severe disappointment? They usually come in a time ...

God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul's hands, so that even facecloths or work aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them and evil spirits came out of them. Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits saying, 'I command you by the Jesus Paul preaches!'.....'The evil spirit answered them 'I know Jesus, and I recognise Paul-but who are you?' Acts 19:11-15 When God moves on hearts to believe anything can happen. Facecloths and aprons were sufficient, such was the faith of the people. This was the Holy Spirit's doing not Paul's. Paul had tried to share the good news with the Jews in the local synagogue but they slandered The Way (Jesus) so he moved on to the open Asians. However, the Jews thought they could touch the power without the experience and discovered that they were powerless, without authority. The demon recognised Je...

At Ephesus Paul found some disciples and asked them, 'did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' 'No' they told him, 'we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit'. 'Then what baptism were you baptised with?' he asked. 'The baptism of John' they replied.Acts 19:1-3 Salvation belongs to our God, who sits upon the throne.... it is His workmanship not ours. As we come to know Him we believe. We may not know it all, we may hear a little from one place but then discover there is more. As we hear about the more, with open hearts, we can embrace all He has for us. The baptism in the Holy Spirit was a fulfillment of a promise made by Jesus when He left the disciples. He said I must leave you so I can send you the Holy Spirit. He will empower you, enable you. The Holy Spirit draws us to the Lord, teaches us His ways, counsels us, directs us. He is the  fulfillment of salvation to the believer. If you do not know Him, invite Him in ...

A Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent man who was powerful in the use of scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the ways of the Lord; being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught about Jesus accurately, although he only knew John’s baptism. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. Acts 18:24-26 Apollos did not wait until he knew more he went with what he had, perhaps he did not know of the more. He went and preached the gospel and boldly proclaimed Jesus. Timidity was not found in this man, the spirit of God was upon him and he went and he spoke. When he discovered the more, all the better, he went boldly proclaiming Jesus. When God wants us to do something he provides the opportunity, emboldens us(is there such a word?) and lets us loose. The gospel is life to the perishing, hope to the hopeless. Jesus is the only Saviour, He alone sets captives free. Jesus, not the world, is our provider. He uses the world but we look to Him not ...

Many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptised. Then the Lord said to Paul in a night vision, 'Don't be afraid, but keep on speaking and don't be silent. For I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to hurt you, because I have many people in this city.' And he stayed there a year and six months.....Acts 18:8b-10 Perhaps Paul was concerned over the Jews who resisted him and blasphemed and perhaps his experience of their persecution in the past but God speaks to him in a dream. Sometimes the Lord also speaks to give rest before a storm. Paul had a productive time in Corinth. The Lord poured out salvation on all who listened and believed. God is good He wants that none should perish. The opposition did come, it came from the Jews yet Gallio the proconsul resisted them, so they beat up the leader of the synagogue, crazy people. The enemy hates the gospel, he hates people being set free so he will always oppose the work of the gospel, but, g...

From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and had determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and exist.......being God's offspring then, we shouldn't think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination. Acts 17:26-29 To God be the glory, to God be the glory, to God be the glory for the things He has done; With His blood He has saved me with His power He has raised me To God be the glory for the things He has done. (song by Andre Crouch-I think) I can't but praise my God for all He has done, for His intention towards me, His desire to know me. Since I was 4 I sought the Lord and at 19 I found Him and what joy accompanied that finding. Now all my days I live for Him for I am grateful not because I am a lowly ...

         Men of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious  in every respect. For .....I found an altar on which was inscribed: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it -He is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in shrines made by hands. Neither is he served by human hands, as though He needs anything.' Acts 17:22-25 I need not fear lest I forget to lay flowers before Him, I cannot contain Him in a shrine, He is everywhere. He is not removed from me, He wants to know me as His best friend, even me in all my wrong. He does not require me to sacrifice to Him the only sacrifice I can give Him is my sacrifice of praise. If I offend Him all I need to do is be sincerely sorry. I do not need to fear that He will punish me, He is not like that, He is my father, my friend. He is not the destroyer, He brings Life, life abundant. He blesses...

As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea. ..The people here were more open minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of prominent Greek women also as well as men. Acts17:10-12l The Jews are not far behind Paul, and again will stir up trouble. This time Paul puts out to sea to escape. What will Paul's report be? will he talk about the troublesome Jews or the fact that he had found open hearts. Paul had shipwreck, stonings, assault of all kinds but he also had very good memories. Some of the bad times can be so devastating that for a time we forget the good stuff. Last night as I was going to bed I still felt lonely but again praised the Lord for all I did have. As I read the above scripture I thought of all the stories I have in my life. I remember the time we, as a family, were almost sh...

Then they travelled .....to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. as Usual Paul went to the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them...... then some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a great number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of leading women. But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some scoundrels from the marketplaces....Acts 17:1-5 Why did the Jews become jealous? The whole focus of the Jewish religion is the coming Messiah isn't it?   Do they not like good news?   As we look at church history the fights around religion are fierce, people are burned at the stake, thrown to lions, abused terribly by those who want to control truth. Yet truth cannot be boxed, sliced, diced, strained. Truth is pure and powerful and sets captives free. Truth is the strongest force, perhaps that it is  why it has the strongest opposition. Jesus said He was the way, the Truth, the Life, no man can come to ...

But Paul called out with a loud voice 'Don't harm yourself, because we are all here!' Then the jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he escorted them out and said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' Acts 16:28,29 This soldier was important to the Lord. He caused Paul and Silas to be unable to go into the lands of Phrygia and Galatia, Mysia and Bithynia and gave Paul a dream in which he saw a man from Macedonia pleading with him, 'Cross over to Macedonia and help us!' Next Paul and Silas get put in jail after being beaten, the there is an earthquake. This soldier and his whole house become believers. We don't hear about him or what he is to do but God had a plan.   Paul and Silas could have easily become discouraged and wondered at the call to Macedonia. Being beaten and thrown into jail was probably not what they expected yet they trusted God. When the officials came to release Paul and Silas and dis...

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains came loose.Acts 16:25,26 Powerful worship! God had a plan, He was about to reveal His power to the roman soldier and all those within the jail. The soldier thought everyone had escaped and was about to kill himself but Paul prevented him. The soldier and all his house were saved because of the might of this incident, in the same night they were all baptised. The Lord often told his people to go out to war in worship, worship releases His power, opens heaven and draws out the miracle. After being beaten with rods and then thrown into jail Paul and Silas could have sat down and felt sorry for themselves but they chose worship. Laying aside self-pity and moving into worship takes effort but with great rewards. Lay o...

When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. The mob joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them in jail....Acts 16:19,22 The owners were the ones who used the girl Paul delivered from a spirit of prediction to make money. I can just see the demons going wild now that the Spirit of God was being made manifest in their midst. Wild frenzy is not rational and it takes hold of large numbers of people and makes no sense. The spirt of 'the mob' we see in many places, it has always been around and we see it today. A mob can be whipped up to a rage about anything, it rips and tears, kills and destroys. The fact that a mob stood against Paul and Silas just means that they were doing something right, someone was set free and greater than this Go...

As she followed Paul and us she cried out, 'These men, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation, are the slaves of the Most High God. and she did this for many days. But Paul was greatly aggravated and turning to the spirit, said, 'I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.' And it came out right away. 'Go Lord Go!' I totally understand how Paul felt. Have you experienced these people? You know there is something in them that hates you yet their words seem to say the opposite, you can sense the slither of snakes and it makes your skin crawl. It called demons. Still on enforced bedrest now, I watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy over the past few days. One part that loudly resonated with me was when Gandalf the white (he been resurected) goes to visit King Theoden to call him to war and Wormwood the king's counsellor is speaking lies and deception into the kings ears. I loved the way Gandalf set the king free, a full on deliverance. I...