The day with dianne Louise

After looking around at them with anger and sorrow at the hardness of their hearts, He told the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. Mark 3:5 In the past I have focused on the Pharisees but this time I want to look at the man with the withered hand. The man with the paralysed hand was challenged to stand firm in the face of the arrogant judgements of his leaders. Should he trust this man Jesus, would it be worth it to face off the Pharisees? He could see a fight looming, he would have known what the Pharisees were like, no doubt he already suffered their judgement becasue it was popular to believe sickness and disease was the result of sin. The man called him out in front of everyone, could he stop trembling? He saw the anger in Christ as He dared to challenge the way things had been, he could smell the scorn of the Pharisees. Yet when this Jesus spoke to Him he could not resisit, what if he could be healed? What if now was his...

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and heal their land. 2Chronicles 7:14 While in Sydney yesterday I went to CCC Oxford Falls church and bought a few books and CDs. One of the books was called inspired to Pray by ps Phil Pringle. I have just started it and already it is a good read. Why? Becausue it is the heart beat of our God. Becasue Ps Phil is a man of pray and understands the 'art of prayer'. Let's look at the above verse. If my people who are called by my name.  We are His and are called Christians. (followers of Christ) 'Humble themselves and pray and seek' That sort of requires us to turn off all distractions. I am finding more and more that TV has nothing to offer me, the news is disaster prone, debt focused, condemnatory in nature so why watch it? Once God has the picture that we are really serious He gives us His attention and begins ...

But You are a shield around me, O Lord; You bestow glory on me and lift my head. Ps 3:3 For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He  predestined, He also called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:29,30 Do you understand our God has glory He wishes to share with us? What does that look like? Who can we look at to learn what that looks like? Moses? He was hungry for God's glory to go with Him. So what did glory do? Protect, provide, guide, relate? Perhaps you can add more. Jesus? He had the glory of God with Him. What did He do? He was sinless, He healed the sick, He raised the dead, He walked on water, He was divinely protected. What did He say about us? "Greater things will you do." Well then, what are we planning? Are you going to stay behind that door quivering? Or are you  going to dare to believe that you have Him inside and...

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayers. 1Peter3:12 Who are the righteous? Those who put their trust in Him. So if I put my trust in Him and I give Him my heart then I have His eyes and ears. Awesome! Today I travelled to Sydney to see family and because I wanted to have a drive. I listened to great teaching Cd's and my favourite music. Tomorrow I will go to my favourite church and then hopefully have a swim in my favourite rock pool, because I can. Yesterday I worked hard, in fact I had all week, even on a public holiday and I longed for a change and He gave it to me, a time of refreshing. As I drive I am constantly amazed at my God's creation. This afternoon I took my mum to see a movie, she must have found it slow as she went to sleep. Tonight I played her Rummiking and she wooped me, I don't mind because she needs to win, it does her good. I had dinner with my brother's family and we had a healthy conversation abou...

After John was arrested Jesus went to Galilee preaching the good news of God. "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news!" Mark 1:14,15 ,,,,, The words that stand out to me are 'Repent and believe in the good news.' We have been given 'good news', dare we believe it? Salvation has come to us, dare we take hold of it? What is God speaking to you about? Has He given you wild dreams? Are they way above and beyond where you are now? Is it possible that He is showing you, opening your eyes to what He has for you if you would only believe. The scripture tells us we are made in His image. He is great! Dare we think ourselves great in His hand? If we dare to believe greater things will we do. We will go to those places, we will speak to those people, we will walk on that thin wire way above what we know. Jesus took ordinary fishermen and turned them into men who went boldly with a message. What does he want ...

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised in the Jordan by John. As soon as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending to Him like a dove, and a voice came from heaven: You are my beloved Son, I take delight in you. Mark 1:11 The words; 'My beloved Son', indicates the Son's uniqueness and recalls Abraham's love for his son Isaac. Only Israel and Israel's king were called God's son in the OT. The divine declaration in Mark 1:11 announced Jesus' eternal relationship to God. All three persons of the trinity were present as Jesus' baptism. (commentary-HCSB) I personally love the words 'I take delight in You.' I want to hear the Lord say that to me. I delight in His will and Him more than anything and therefore I understand delight. You do not often hear a father say those words about a son but I know that it is felt by many. What causes delight? For me it comes from a true app...

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to investigate a matter. Proverbs 25:2  Ephesians tells me : This grace was given to me- the least of the saints-to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of the Messiah, and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. This is so God's multi-faceted wisdom may be known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. This is according to His eternal purpose accomplished in the Messiah Jesus our Lord. 3:11 Dare I say we are made for greater stuff? We are His emissaries here on earth and our job is to display the greatness of our God. As we walk in victory we shine like the sun (Son). Dare I believe I am great in His hand? If I could, what could I accomplish in Him? What great works has He for me to do? Have I underestimated what God has actually given me? Is there much more hidden in this life that is intended for His g...

In Him we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. Ephesians 3:12 This is a part of the ministry of the gospel that Paul believed he was sent to accomplish in chapter 3. My connect group had given me a challenge: to find a verse that represented me by the first two numbers in my birthday; 3:12. Going through my favourite gospels and epistles to find one that rang true to me took more than I thought. Yet the above verse reminds me I am called to walk by faith in Him and I am also called to spread the gospel. I have a challenge to keep my eyes on Him and search for His purpose in my life. Yes this presents challenges at times but there it is. I have boldness, in Him. He is the source of my confidence, my results, my joy, my blessing. Walking in what He has chosen for me and only that presents another challenge, what is He saying? What is He doing? Where is He right now?

A generous person will be blessed for he shares his food with the poor.Proverbs 22:9 There are many proverbs about the blessing of the generous along with warnings about not eating the bread of a stingy person. Have you even been associated with a stingy person? I have! You feel as if you will choke on what they offer you to eat. Theirs words encourage you to eat but their eyes say a different message and you can't wait to leave. A generous person will give you their last morsel trusting the Lord for more. They do not withhold thinking, 'this could be my last so I will withold', rather they trust that as they give more will follow. In fact you rarely know it is their last. Many struggle with giving for they cannot trust the Lord to supply the more and therefore do not receive the more anyway. It is a catch 22 situation. The same could be said about stepping out in faith believing that God will provide continually. The ways of God are hidden from the foolish, the stingy...

Then Jesus came near and said to them, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you, And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."Matthew 28:18-20 Last night I went to a concert, 'Opera in the Alps', at Beechworth. It was quite good, mostly sung in Italian, which I appreciate but do not understand. It appears to be a full and vibrant language. There were thousands of people there, mostly my age and older. However there were some young, local talent and they were very good. Today I am thinking, now if we put the gospel into Italian Opera people would come and hear it and even if they don't understand it they would be touched. Personally, I can appreciate a certain amount of Opera, but I know that most of the songs are about woeful things and prefer to...

The 11 disciples travelled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw Him they worshipped Him, but some doubted. Matthew 28:16,17  Jesus was crucified, the disciples came together, numb, questioning, perhaps praying. What to do? Perhaps fasting. Jesus had said when asked why his disciples did not fast, "when the bridegroom is present you feast but that a time was coming when they would fast", when He was no longer with them." This was now! What to do? What did Jesus want them to do? He had sent word by Mary, "tell the disciples to meet me in Galilee." That was obviously something familiar to them. Do you have moments of uncertainty? I do! In those moments I have a sense to wait upon Him and find His mind. When I have His mind I can move on. At such times it might be good to fast, it helps. Fasting is a tool we are given, along with prayer and giving. I heard a message about this out of Matthew 6 last Sunday and it rang true to ...

Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid, go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me." Matthew 28:10 Jesus had told his disciples what was to happen, it is not as if He had surprised them and yet there were afraid. We are told many things by our Lord yet when they happen we are afraid. He comforts us and tells us, "Don't be afraid!". Yet we do fear. We fear because when the thing happens it is new and we are unsure. Unsure that we heard right in the first place, unsure that we are hearing right on the way and unsure that God really is for us. Why would God be so interested in me? Yet I have discovered that the scripture does not lie. He really does go before me, He really does love me, He really is guiding me. His plan for me really is greater than I could hope or dream and I will see it if I stay connected and walk with Him. I am amazed, continually how good God is. He really is so good. I have overcome my feelings to know it. I...

When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "truly this was the Son of God."Matthew 27:54 An uncircumcised Roman could recognise the truth. He represents us Gentiles. We did not have a beef about religion and were Able to see. The religion of the Jews blinded them to the truth. This so scares me! Will I become religious and fight for mt little plot of religious understanding and persecute the truth? Heaven forbid yet history tells me it happens again and again. Jesus shows me the way. He was the Son of God but did not think His equality with the Father a reason to persecute us. How can this be? What grace is this? Oh God, that I might know this, what freedom! No amount of righteousness caused Him to be proud. Thank You Lord! Amen! '

From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?"...... Jesus shouted again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. Matthew 27:45-50 Jesus' death conincided with the afternoon sacrifice. Those who had cried out for his blood were in the temple when the curtain was rent. He was the perfect sacrifice. The darkness was interpreted as God's judgement. Some would have thought it was against Jesus but in the light of His subsequent resurrection they would come to see that it was judgement against sin that Jesus became for us. He was sin for us, He was separated from the Father for us, we don't have to go there. Repentance sets us free, the price has been paid. Jesus was cast out for us, His Father rejected Him for us, we are not rejected but welcomed back, just like the father of the prod...

"He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He has put His trust in God; let God rescue Him now-if He wants Him! For He said, "I am God's Son." Matthew 27:42,43 Jesus was being severely mocked by the hordes of Hell through the religious leaders. The demons were screaming at Him, dancing with glee, thinking they had won but the Father had a plan. Have you been mocked? Is all that you are been ridiculed? Do you hear the Hordes of Hell railing against all that you believe? If you have chosen to believe that God was leading you and you are standing against the weakness of man then you will be mocked. Anyone who raises their head and says, "no! I will not compromise!" "I will not walk the way of the world, I will not yield to sin." will be mocked! If you refuse to 'go with the flow' you will be mocked. If you dare to believe God and step out in fai...

While he (Pilate) was sitting on the judges bench, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I suffered terribly in a dream becasue of Him!" Matthew 27:19 Pilate was unable to do as requested, he was cornered by a crowd driven by crazed and a demonic lust for blood, all because the religious leaders were offended with Jesus. Ever been cornered? Feel like you have nowhere to go? I think we all do. In a corner did you make a good decision or a bad one? I would hazzard to guess a bad one more often than not. Pilate was set up, a useful pawn. We are set up by our enemy and seeing the way can be awfully difficult. Pilate, in his effort to do right, for he recognised Jesus as righteous, offered what he thought a solution that would force the people to choose right but it back-fired. He offered Barabas who was not a good man, he was a notorious criminal, the total opposite to Jesus and the crazed crowd chose him above their saviour. Pila...

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant approached him and she said, "you were with Jesus the Galilean too." But he denied it in front of everyone: "I don't know what you are talking about!"........again he denied it with an oath, "I don't know that man!" ....Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed, and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken and he went out and wept bitterly. Matthew 26:69-75 Peter was about to receive insight about himself. When he was cornered he lied, blasphemed, did anything to get out of the corner. He would have done that all his life from childhood, it was automatic. I know people, who when cornered, they become a nasty fighting machine, a beast. Myself, I go to water and have to find courage. Jesus knew Peter and told him what he would do, Peter denied it, protesting loudly of his dedication yet saw he was just the oppos...

"Friend", Jesus asked him, " why have you come?" Matthew 26:50 Jesus said these words to Judas when Judas and the rabble came to arrest Jesus. Judas was a friend, a friend who became offended over money and betrayed for money. A friend who was about to discover what the price would be to himself. I have experienced this in family. One minute close then next minute divided. Judas realised his mistake but could not find his way back to salvation and took his own life, all because of money. Is it worth it? Last night I talked to a friend who found family offensive. I explained that as a Christian we have access to grace that others do not. What is God saying? Having expectations of others cause offense. Judas expected Christ to be the mighty leader who would set Israel free, he was disappointed in the Christ he found. I believe we have to give up on all expectations and walk in grace (in the spirit) because we are not perfect and by binding people to expectations...

Then He said to them, "My soul is swallowed up in sorrow - to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with Me." Going a little farther, He fell face down and prayed, "My father! If is is possible, let his cup pass from Me, Yet not as I will, but as You will." Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep. Matthew 26:36-40 Ever had your soul swallowed up in sorrow, grief, to the point you thought you would die? I have! It hurts even more when those who you consider close disappear or fall asleep on you. It seems that there are some things we just have to do alone and our only company is our pain and the Lord. Because He has been there and actually was innocent but brutally abused and killed, I think He understands. The joy I have is that He rose from the dead and so will you come through you trial, let Him lead. I could counsel Jesus, "Your friends need to fall asleep so that you belong totally to God, so that it is all about Him and you....

Jesus said to them, "Tonight all of you will run away becasue of Me, for it is written: 'I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' Peter told Him, "Even if everyone runs away because of You, I will never run away." "I assure you", Jesus said to him, "tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times!" "Even if I have to die with You, " Peter told Him, "I will never deny You!" And they all said the same thing. Matthew 26:31-35  Ever had a rude awakening? ever been so sure of your heart and actions that you would stand up for yourself against a prediction about your future actions? What casues such a huge discrepancy? Do we view ourselves emotionally?  or logically? The bible tells us in proverbs to get knowledge and in the getting of knowledge get wisdom. When we know ourselves we will act wisely. Do you know if you are a disciplined person or a lazy person? can truth reside in y...

As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples and said,"Take and eat; this is my body. Then He took the cup, and after giving thanks, He gave it to them and said, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is my blood that establishes the covenant; it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 26:26,27 The making of a covenant was normally accompanied by an act of sacrifice. The slaughter of the animal signified the consequences that would befall anyone who broke the covenant. The old covenant was sealed by such a sacrifice (Ex 24:8) and now, Jesus' sacrifice enacted the new covenant that had been promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34 (...... this is the covenant I will make with them..... I will put My teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people.) Accepting Christ into my life I have had the hand of God write His ways on my heart. The struggle is gone. Before I had invited ...

Then one of the twelve- the man called Judas Iscariot-went to the chief priests and said, '' What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you? So they weighed 30 pieces of silver for him. And from that time he started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him. Matthew 26:14-16 What possessed a man who had walked with Jesus for 3 years, performed some miracles himself, seen the deaf hear, the lame walk, the blind see, the dead raised to betray? If we re-read the previous verses we see the story of Mary breaking the alabaster box of perfumed oils on Jesus and Judas being offended, it was all about money, success, glory to him and this Jesus was a sad disappointment. Offense and disappointment can sour the best of relationships and it is a tool our enemy delights in using. You can smell it.  On Sunday I had a woman tell me how she had met with family for a weekend and because she was single the others took the best rooms containing spas, leaving her the smallest. ...

When Jesus had finished saying all this (the parables), He told His disciples, "You know that the Passover takes place after two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over and crucified."Matthew 26:1,2 While Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon, a man who had a serious skin disease, a woman approached Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive fragrant oil. Matthew 26:6 There are times when God moves on quickly. The information Jesus gave in the parables is such that you would want to sit and chew on it a while so that you could truly understand it and appropriate it. In verse 6 we see another interruption. Jesus had gone to have lunch with Simon, who He had previously healed from leprosy and here a woman appears, in a forbidden way, and interrupts big time. Jesus takes all the interruptions in His stride, in fact He causes them. How did the disciples handle them? We see in verse 8 thery were not too kindly disposed to what the woman did with the oil, she poured...

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will gather all the nations, and he will separate people from one another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? and when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my...

The Parable of the Talents For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them to his property. To one he gave 5 talents, to another 2, to another 1, each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received 5 talents went at once and traded with them, and he made 5 talents more. So also he who had received 2 talents made 2 talents more. But he who had received 1 talent went and dug in the ground and his his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received 5 talents came forward, bringing 5 talents more.......His mater said to him, "well done, good and faithful servant you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master." .......He who had received 1 talent came forward, saying, "master I knew you to be a hard man reaping where you did no sow and gathering where you did not scatter seed, so I wa...

Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered saying, 'since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterwards the other virgins came also saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he answered, 'truly, I say to you, 'I do not know you....

But if the wicked servant says to himself, 'my master is delayed, ' and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when does not expect him and at a hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:48-51 Jesus is speaking to servants here who have a relationship with the master, in other words believers. Do you know 'believers' who beat and abuse others? I have know of christian paedophiles, fathers who sexually abuse their daughters and think it is justified. Have you been abused? I have. How did it make you feel about Christianity? Let me guess! None too impressed. Did it make you reject Christ? I have a sister who has rejected Christ, probably because of our up bringing. We had a none too nice father who was very religious. Fortunately I found Christ at 19 and fell in love with the saviou...

Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you, he will set him over his possessions. Matthew 24:45,46 Each of us has a task to perform and to do so with diligence. It is so easy to assume 'why I am only a father or a mother of little children, what is so important about that? Or perhaps I am only a grand parent, what is there for me to do? If we have ears to hear and eyes to see we will find our task. Any true believer has been given a task and that is our to perform. We have a 'household' to manage, so to speak. Who is our neighbour, who are our workers, who are our family and friends. As each of us breathers and lives, we have a mandate. Let's us be busy with what we have been given to do. Amen!

Therefore stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not let his house be broken into. Therefore you must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:42-44 He is coming! If we knew when we would behave and press in but because He is delayed we become side tracked.  'Do you see a lot of pleasant looking places where you might lay down and take a rest, and if you do take a look at all the faces there their sadness will tell you that it's best, to keep on walking.' (song by Dogwood)  Weariness in well doing causes us to stop, offense causes us to stop, unfulfilled promises cause us to stop, pain, disillusionment, grief all trip us up. What we need is a good pest exterminator travelling with us. This we have, but, we should choose to invite Him along, His name is Holy Spirit. ...

For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them away, so will be the coming of the son of Man. Matthew 24:38,39 Noah's community saw him, for over 100 years, building a strange ark, inland, well away from water. Where is Noah now? Who is Noah? Noah and his family were deemed righteousness, righteousness enough for God to choose them, and them alone, to be the new beginning, to care for all His animals. What sort of person was Noah? Obedient? Faithful? A God seeker? Diligent? Are you a Noah in your world? Is your behaviour different or the same? What sort of structure are you building? Is it a place of safety and food for the hungry and dependant? Will it stay afloat when the storm comes? Will you be ready and will you take others with you when He comes? As...