The day with dianne Louise

Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as The Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. Above all, put on love- the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15 Did you know you are holy and loved? It has nothing to do with how you feel or think about yourself. You are viewed through. Christ. What does holy mean to you? I know we can conjure up strange images of what 'holy' people should or would look like, but guess what? Holy basically means set apart, different from mainstream folk.  We are told by Paul to 'put on compassion'. Have you ever imagined compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience to be like a garment that you would go to your wardrobe and select to ...

Therefore put to death what belongs to your worldly nature, sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these God's wrath comes on the disobedient, and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. But now you must put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. Colossians 3:5-10 How do I put to death my flesh? In myself I am capable of being good for about 5 minutes and then crash. I have to ask the Holy Spirit to take me beyond my failure, empower me and set me free.  We have the beautiful presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling within. It is He who brings us to repentance and awareness of sin. It is He who empowers us to overcome. As we walk in the spirit we are liberated. Just as I can dete...

So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. When the Messiah, who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4 Ok, so if I live at no 10 Downing st, I should check out the rooms, the kitchen, the garden, the bathroom; get to know my new home. Wouldn't it be funny if the new Prime Minister never bothered to investigate his new home, or get to know his staff. Imagine him living as if he still lived in Nottingham or Liverpool. I am reading our former prime minister(John Howard)s book. From the very beginning his passion was politics. He had a goal, a plan, a vision. When he found himself at  the prime minister's lodge, he embraced all that that honour entailed.  How can we, as children of the living God, joint-heirs with Christ, de...

If you died with the Messiah to the elemental forces of this world, why do you live as if you still belong to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: "don't handle, don't taste, don't touch"? All these regulations refer to what is destroyed by being used up; they are commands and doctrines of men. Although they have a reputation of wisdom by promoting ascetic practices, humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self - indulgence. Colossians 2:20-23 The Colossians were being deceived into believing that a 'fuller' relationship with God could be obtained by severe treatment of the body via dietary regulations. All they were doing was giving themselves and the false teachers a reason to boast in their flesh, they were adding to salvation and gods were being fashioned. Our enemy wants us to worship anything but our one, true, God. Self efforts to save ourselves merely cause us to fall into his deceitful hands. Jesus ...

Therefore,don't let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. These are shadows of what is to come; the substance is the Messiah. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on ascetic practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm and inflated without cause by his un spiritual mind. He doesn't hold onto the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, develops with growth from God. Colossians 2:16-19 When we are insecure in our relationship with people we are easily swayed by people who say they know the one we want to develop a relationship with. Until we know that person, intimately, for ourselves will we be swayed. But then comes the day when we know that we know that we know we know and we do not care for the opinions of others. This is the way it is with Christ. Others who sound so important can easily deflate us, intimidate us or over rule us...

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them through the cross. Colossians 2: 15 Feeing like you are nailed to a cross? Perhaps you flesh is dying? Rejoice! Jesus our example, by dying on the cross he destroyed the authority of Satan. By you dying to the fleshly appetites you destroy the power and authority of darkness in your life. Amen! Not only did Christ destroy Satan's authority, He disgraced him publicly. The proud angel had mud ( Christ's blood) on his face. As you crucify the flesh he loses and the Kingdom of God scores a try.  So many people live to follow sports, especially football yet something greater is here! The Kingdom of God is advancing as you master your flesh and run the distance, knocking aside your enemy with your faith. Keep going! You are disarming satan.

And when you were dead in your trespasses and the uncircucision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave all your trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and He has taken it out of our way by nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13,14 What a God! He delights in taking what is dead and breathing fresh life into it. Not only life is given by a wiping of all the past, righteousness is imputed. Do you understand what righteousness is? You are given a clean slate, but there's more, you were empowered to live a life to the fullest. You were given a new name, a seat in the heavenlies with Christ. All because you invited Christ into your life. Whenever condemnation comes you can tell it: 'begone!' Because the past is nailed to a cross, it is no longer yours. Now, you are the righteousness of God in Christ. Amen!

Having been buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. Colossians 2:12 By obedience in following Christ through baptism we benefit, we are raised with Him. Coming to Christ liberates from the price of sin. Baptism buries the past and raises us up to new life, empowered by the greatness of God. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in Christ who loves me. Galatians 2:20 As I submit my will to Christ I am blessed by the presence of Christ, the power of Christ, the indwelling love of Christ. Follow Him and live! Amen!

You were also circumcised in Him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of the Messiah. Having been buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. Colossians 2: 11,12 Circumcision is permanent and painful. How can I live as if it has not happened. Any male circumcised as an adult would be able to tell you the pain, and the cost. When we accept Christ we are circumcised in the heart, there is a C tattoo on the wall of our heart. We are forever His. Just because you cannot see it you cannot deny it! It is there and forever calling you to consecration! I can imagine that this may have been a motivating factor by those of the early Christians who were called 'the circumcision party', those with non-religious intent that is. Having experienced pain in our lives we are forever marked. Likewise having experienced Christ we are forever marked by Him. His...

Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ. For the entire fullness of God's nature dwells bodily in Christ, and you have been filled with Him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. Colossians 2:8-10 There are a lot of emotional Christians out there who do not study the word of God for themselves but rely on the opinion of others, they may read books other than the bible and watch movies and allow their opinions to be shaped by these influences but not Christ or His word. Guys read your bibles and discover Christ in the scriptures. Don't take the scripture out of context, seek the truth. Don't lazily listen to this person and that, who happen to have bold opinions, and not to Christ Himself, and lastly do what Christ tells you to do, in scripture. As I conduct DivorceCare I discover many Christians who have re-written the bible to say it is o...

Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus The Lord, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude. Colossians 2:6,7 Are you the type of person that buys things and then changes how to operate them? Or are you the person that goes to the doctor for a prescription and then alters how the medication should be taken? Christ should be the modifier, not us. We take Him wholly as He is and walk in all that He is without modification.   I can not add to salvation any works, or I will boast in myself. I cannot add to grace or I will again glory in myself. Salvation is the taking of Christ's payment for our sins and then becoming more like Him, as He woo us. Salvation does not need me to add any ingredient of my own or I will fail to appropriate all that is held there for me, and there is an abundance of Him. Salvation is a walk of gratitude and freedom from the penalty of sin, not a works programme, I am not...

For I want to know how great a struggle I have for you, for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not seen me in person. I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery-Christ. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him! Colossians 2:1-3 What love Paul had for these saints! He was an intercessor as well as a great preacher and apostle. I am always impressed with leaders who know how to pray and groan in the spirit for their flock. I have been a recipient of such prayer and I appreciate it, greatly. I am also sad for the flocks of those who rely on others to do the praying because when leaders carry the burden they are usually in touch with the heart of God. Paul's concern for the people in Laodicea was that their hearts would be joined together in love and be thus encouraged. As people's heart are joined in love they have no time for d...

We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.  I labour for this, striving with His strength that works powerfully in me. Colossians 1:28,29 We who read all that the apostle wrote could agree that all he wrote employed wisdom, passion and focus. I pray that all I write and speak employs wisdom for I know that I am also quite capable, in my natural self, of being foolish at times. However, like Paul I am passionate about the truth of the gospel and desire that all who come to Christ will apply themselves with all diligence to mature in Christ. Paul goes on to state that he laboured for this goal. He did not just want them to mature, his passion led him to labour in prayer and teaching for this end. Fortunately for us he utilised the power of the Holy Spirit working in him. Having been involved in pastoring two churches I can say that the energy required at times is huge. Yet as the load increases so does our depende...

I have become the gospels servant, according to God's administration that was given to me for you, to make the message fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to the saints. God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:25-27 Centuries passed by with occasional glimmers of the Promise. Jesus visited earth many times and fellow shipped with select saints but there was coming a time when ALL who wanted to come close could. That time is now! All are welcome into relationship with God. There are no tests! There is no sacrifice! Scripture tells us: ' all who call upon the name of The Lord will be saved!'Romans 10:13. Trust and obey, believe Him and say: 'if you're happy in Jesus just to trust and obey!' (Song) Press into Him! Receive from the giver of life! There is glorious wealth inside! Amen!

Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions. But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless, and blameless before Him- if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. Colossians 1:21-23 Our decisions and actions alienate us. I remember, back in my youth, being invited to youth fellowship, again and again, by various nurses that were all on the same floor in the nursing home as I. I was caught in a way of behaving and did not see or hear the truth, until He revealed Himself to me. I was lost but my God found me and came to me. He revealed my sin and showed me a way to Him. The answer for my sin was His ( Christ's sacrifice). I was able to invite Him into my heart and was instantly transformed. I have been made holy and blameless because of Him. I am redeemed from hopelessness and stay so as I follow Him,...

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things have been created through Him and for Him.  He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.  He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything.  For God was pleased to have all fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross- whether the things on earth or things in heaven. Colossians 1:15-20 How beautiful! Christ is the centre! Everything revolves around Him, it is all for Him, He is the force that holds all things together. He is the head of the church! I know my head holds my brain and without it I am dead. So I can safely say He must be there, and in charge...

I have been 'Yahweh your God ever since  the land of Egypt; You know no other God but Me. I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought. When they has pasture, they became satisfied, and their hearts became proud. Therefore they forgot Me. Hosea 13:4-6 Have you ever been forgotten? How does it feel? Have you even forgotten your childhood friends and moved on only to discover they were the ones you needed in a crisis? I did! I also remember a time, in my 20s when my husband and I went from being poor to blessed and we became proud for a season. We soon realized that we did not like it in that place and moved back to faith. Since that time I have clung to faith, knowing what idleness and neglect tasted like. I am so grateful my Lord did not walk away from me. I am so glad He stayed faithful during this time. Now I have been through many times of blessing and many times of hardship but the constant is my faith. His faithfulness draws me on and I love ...

He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. We have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, in Him. Colossians 1:13 Whether we like it or not we were, and some still are, in the domain of darkness. What is that domain? It is a place ruled by the fleshly appetites, obsession with self, elevation of the self's opinion, herded and controlled by the angels of darkness, inflicted with all the deadly diseases of darkness, and having no vision of anything other than the kingdom of darkness. The Kingdom of Light is ruled by the Son of God and is filled with all blessing and freedom in the spirit. The purpose in this kingdom is to deny self, be led by His Spirit and be fulfilled in pursuing the mandates of salvation for the lost, healing for the hurting and Lordship of Christ.  The funny thing is that as we allow Christ to rule freedom takes off inside of us. Freedom comes through submission to Christ. The release from the price of sin is ...

May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints inheritance in the light. Colossians 1:11,12 Our strength comes from Him, not ourselves. We are a conductor of His power but He is the supplier. So when I need power I go to him for a recharge. This power, that He gives, gives me the ability to endure with joy. Notice He doesn't take the pain away, He gives strength to endure. Endurance has thanksgiving wrapt up in it. Much like those Greek vine leaves wrapped around tasty goats cheese.  This endurance brings a reward, a share in the saints inheritance. How good is that? Awesome! So, right now, plug in to His glorious power! Amen!

For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven't stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of The Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:9,10 A couple of things jump out at me:  Paul and those with him, did not cease to pray for the Colossians. I cannot say my prayer life is so diligent, as much as I intend to pray for others diligently there are so many I lose track.  The essence of Paul's prayer was that the Colossians would have the knowledge of Christ's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding so that they would walk worthily of The Lord, fully pleasing to Him and bearing fruit and what's more that they would grown in the knowledge of God.  What an excellent prayer. When we pull it apart it is an empowering, lifting up prayer. Further into the book we disc...

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the message of truth, the gospel that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and  recognised God's grace in the truth. Colossians 1:2-6 Paul had not yet visited Colossae but relied on the reports given him by Epaphras who had established this church. Paul had heard about their response to the gospel. Would it not be gratifying to have such a great leader write to them personally. It also did Paul's heart good to hear of their faith? Paul mentions the love these saints had for all other fellow believers, thus evidencing the depth of their conversion. When you experience the ' born again' transition your whole outlook changes. Your de...

Let whoever is wise understand these things, and whoever is insightful recognise them. For the ways of The Lord are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. Hosea 14:9 No matter what we think is right, there is only one right. He alone is God! Living a life as if His word does not compute is foolish and vain. I did not create me, I did not create the world. A wise person knows there is more than what they touch and see. A wise person knows a greater mind is in charge and it is not some abstract 'Mr Universe.' Humility keeps perspective and humility says I know there is a God, and it is not me. The above scripture tells us that as we humble ourselves and walk in His ways, we are righteous. We are made righteous by faith in what Christ did for us. I am not good in myself but He imparts His goodness to me as I believe. If I rebel and refuse to listen then I will stumble and fall on truth, because it does not change, it is constant, never changing....

Ephraim, why should I have anything more to do with idols? It is I who answer and watch over Him. I am like a flourishing pine tree; your fruit comes from Me. Hosea 14:8 Ephraim constantly went after idols. They were blind to the loving relationship being offered by a loving, jealous God. He alone is flourishing. Tonight I heard of many being sick and I rose up and said, 'but we have a great God, His word is powerful and endures forever.' The way The Lord works healing in my life is I must passionately pursue it and refuse to give up. At Easter I had bad stomach pains which then lead to bad headaches and doctors could do nothing so I went to Him and walked with Him and reminded Him, I am in Him and He is in me and if that is the case, His whole ness is my whole as, His stomach is my stomach. I had a gastroscope and colonoscopy last Thursday and the doctor found nothing, all is well. Then I fell and hurt my knees and I continue to walk and remind Him, His knees are my knees. He ...

I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon. His new branches will spread, his splendour will be like the olive tree, his fragrance, like the forest of Lebanon. The people will return and live beneath his shade. They will grow grain and blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon. Hosea 14:5-7 The only way Israel could stay faithful was by walking close to their God and that was impossible when they lived in a body of sin. Jesus came and showed us a better way: walking in faith of the work He did, restoring us to our God. In myself I can say: ' I will not sin, I will be strong,' and without the Holy Spirit's strength inside me empowering me I fall again and again. He is my reward, my strength, my song. It was He who completed the work and opened the door to eternal life. I am not a saviour, in myself I am mortal flesh unable to save myself. I can pull one part of my life into order but anoth...

Israel, return to Yahweh your God, for you have stumbled in your sin. Take words of repentance with you and return to The Lord. Say to Him:"forgive all our sin and accept what is good, so that we may repay You with praise from our lips." Hosea 14:1,2 Having a form of repentance without genuine repentance is abhorrent to The Lord. Saying the right words without really caring does not win friends let alone God. The knowledge of good and evil brings with it an understanding of ritual but the knowledge of God brings life and relationship. The first was sought by Adam in the garden the second was what he gave up for the first.   The Lord is alll about relationship, ritual makes Him ill. The Lord wanted a people who will seek Him for Himself not because they want something from Him. Knowing Him opens the door to eternal splendour, a ride of wonder beyond anything the earth can produce. amen! Oh! Taste and see that The Lord is good! Amen!

When Ephraim spoke, there was a trembling; he was exalted in Israel, but he incurred guilt through Baal (worship) and died. Hosea 13:1 Ephraim had a time of preeminence but threw it all away by becoming entangled in idol worship. Sampson had preeminence and threw it all away for his lust of a woman not of his people. When he was capture he repented and asked God for a final chance and he received it.  It is not how we start that matters. I see so many seniors acting as if they never knew God. They have adopted a soft gospel that has no power. Who would follow such a weak, ineffective gospel? Who would respect such weak individuals who are meant to carry the torch to the finish? We all long for heroes and our fathers are meant to be they, heroes of faith. Our God has not changed, He is faithful and true, His word is not impotent but mighty to save. As Christians we are sons of God and as sons we carry His nature: faithful and true. Don't be weak, let it shine! Amen!

A merchant loves to extort with dishonest scales in his hands. But Ephraim says: how rich I have become; I made it all myself. In all my earnings, No one can find any crime in me that I can be punished for. Hosea 12:5,6 When you have been under, treated badly or very poor and eventually find yourself abound in blessing, it is good to remember the faithfulness if The Lord. It is He who gives the ability to make rich. By remaining humble, staying close to The Lord you will walk circumspectly and allow Him to direct your paths.  Wealth is given so that it can bless others not line your own coffers. Yesterday I received my commission statement and knew, now I can do more to bless my clients by giving them a gift that expressed my gratitude. After all it is they who trusted me. Yet more importantly I want to give to my Lord because He has blessed me. Remaining grateful is so important. Keeping perspective is equally important. Holding ego and self in place is vitally important. When we ...

Yahweh is the God of Hosts; Yahweh is His name. But you must return to your God. Maintain love and justice, And always put your hope in God. Hosea 12:5 The one thing I must do is keep my eyes on The Lord and measure my steps accordingly. If I don't watch Him I wander down wrong paths and collect wrong information. It never fails to surprise me the rubbish people collect and I know how they collect it, they take their eyes off the truth. All sorts of wayward ideas and opinions abound on wrong tracks, full of snares and traps. How do I know if I am on the right track? Do I love God's word, gathering with His people, putting Him first or do I desire foolish things? Am I lost or found? What fruit do I have in my life? What do I do if I am on the wrong track? Repent, turn around and come home. Amen!

 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and our of Egypt I called my son. The more the prophets called them, the more they departed from Me. Hosea 11:1,2 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them in My arms, but they never knew that I healed them. I led them with human cords, With ropes of love. To them I was like one who eases the yoke from their jaws; I bent down to give them food.Hosea 11:3,4 My people are bent on turning from Me. Hosea 11:7 I find these scriptures so sad. A God who  gave and cherish spurned for idols made by human hand. I grieve for our world who sees evidence of His glory and call it 'Mother Nature'.  I see His handiwork and 'Mr Universe' gets the glory. My Lord I ask for mercy, I ask for ears to hear and eyes to see. I ask for the gift of repentance to come on this land, have mercy Lord! Amen! Our God is great and greatly to be praised! Amen!

They speak mere words, Taking false oaths while making covenants. So lawsuits break out like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field. Hosea 10:4 Our God honors His word, above His name. If you think about that it is impacting. If the creator of all says: 'I will call you tomorrow'. He will call. If He agrees to a covenant then He will do all to keep that covenant. When Adam and Eve walked away from Him, He promised to redeem. It took thousands of years but He did redeem us through sending His Son, He kept His word. When He tells me, in His word, He heals us from all our diseases. He does! All we have to do is believe. When He tells me He provides for all my needs, He does. All I have to do is not panick, be still and let Him be God. He is good. When He sent His Holy Spirit to in dwell us He promised a counsellor, guide, comforter.  When He offers me His gifts they are mine to receive and give away. The book of James speaks to the above scripture. (James 4) fights arise becaus...

My God will reject them because they have not listened to Him, they will become wanderers among the nations. Hosea 9:17 This indeed did happen to Israel, they were dispersed among many nations. God found them to be like a wayward child who refused to listen.  Gods people found it impossible to stay faithful they kept desiring other gods made out if wood and stone.  I watch  people in my world chase after Buddhas and various other gods because they appeal to them. To remain hard towards the God Almighty it appeals to have a god on the shelf. Saying 'Yes!' To Christ brings all the power of the Godhead, all the peace, all the authority and all the accountability. Accountability is one aspect that modem men and women do not want. Doing our own things has been made appealing by the deceiver. The is no eternal thought in the process. Satan's line is: 'live for now!' Yet now is small in comparison to eternity , which never ends. Amen! With Christ I have the power to resist...

Sow righteousness for yourselves and reap faithful love. Hosea 10:12 What the world needs now is love sweet love..(song) The world is constantly searching for love, hungry for love. Yet this price tag is never mentioned. If I want you to love me but I mistreat you, ignore you, use you and abuse you then I will not receive love but instead be rejected. If I ignore God, use His name in vain but when I am in a spot  expect to click my fingers and have Him, like a Genie, appear to do my bidding I may be disappointed. Gods love is unfathomable, faithful, and never ending but cannot be manipulated. He is not a trained dog who performs tricks. He is the almighty creator of all and very much in charge. Amen!

They have installed kings, but not through Me, they have appointed leaders, but without My approval. They make their silver and gold into idols for themselves for their own destruction. Hosea 8:4   Israel had rejected The Lord wanting their first king. So that they could be like other nations. Their first king was Saul. God had warned His people that they would become the kings pawns but they did not listen. Their next King was David, whom God  appointed and then Solomon. From then on there were a succession of kings, some good but a lot of bad, who led the people into idolatry and away from God. In the New Testament we see Jesus spend the night in prayer before He chose His team. In the book of Acts we see the Apostles wait on the Lord for leaders and deacons. Asking The Lord for His guidance is important, especially in the choice if leaders. God knows the heart of a person, we see the sell. The Lord wanted His people to involve Him but in they hardened hearts, they thought t...

Israel's arrogance testifies against them, yet they do not return to Yahweh their God, and for all this, they do not seek Him. Hosea 7:10 What is the saddest thing about arrogance? It blinds the vessel it inhabits. Not only do people shun the arrogant, the arrogant do not notice; they are on a power craze and are oblivious. Arrogance prevents a person from life, love, friends. Arrogants attracts injury by those who hate and want revenge.  Arrogant people are caught in a deadly mix, they are in great danger, they distance themselves from the very one who can help and isolate themselves from all that is good. What can be done? Pray for them!

Woe to them for they fled from Me; Destruction for them,  for they rebelled against Me! Though I want to redeem them, they speak lies against Me. They do not cry to me from their hearts; rather they wail on their beds. They slash themselves for grain and new wine; they turn away from Me. Hosea 7:13,14 In DivorceCare I see many  a spouse reach out to a disaffected partner only to find that their spouse has hardened their heart and could not  see or feel the love and forgiveness offered. God had the same problem. His people had hardened their hearts toward Him and although He had the answers they refused Him. What hardens our hearts? Scripture tells us it is sin. When we are where we should not be, doing what a Christian should not do we are courting sin and become hard to goodness, mercy and truth. What us the answer? Repentance, if we can still find it. That us the doorway home. Amen!

All of them are as hot as an oven, and they consume their rulers.  All their kings fall; not one of them call on Me. Hosea 7: 7 How sad it is when people are so consumed by their own ideas and plans, even when going wrong, not lifting their heads to heaven. Usually distress causes us to pray but these verses indicate no one is turning to The Lord in their distress.  Knowing when it is us who cause our distress, not God or others is called insight. The arrogant fail to see, unless someone is praying for their soul, and even then there is a fight. Our God is still God and He reigns, even when we refuse to acknowledge Him. The humble are able to see, the arrogant walk in darkness! Bend the knee!

But they, like Adam, have violated the covenant; There they have betrayed me. Hosea 6:7 It is not shown that God made a covenant with Adam, unless the agreement not to go to a particular part of the garden and eating forbidden fruit, in other words, obedience for eternal life, was what this scripture refers to. There was a place called Adam but there is not known that any covenant breaking a of significance occurred there. I am interested to think that God had a covenant with the man Adam. I am interested because God is about covenants. He was the bringer of covenants to the world. Throughout scripture He is the initiator of covenants. What covenant does He have with me? 'Believe on The Lord Jesus Christ and I will be saved.' Salvation is an ongoing thing. Daily I must choose to walk in this covenant with my God. This is not a 'set and forget' thing. It is vital, living, alive and needs care and attention. Just as in marriage, there are things that violate this covenant...

For I desire loyalty not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6 Way back in my Carholic days I was led to believe that keeping church law was where it was at. My behaviour was not under the spotlight, as confession was there, readily available. Genuine repentance was not considered nor taught, that I remember. Now I discussed this with my mother recently and she was surprised at my interpretation of what I was taught. She, like I, was educated in a catholic school but believed behaviour was important. I know I tried to behave but failed in areas important to me. When I discovered that relationship was based on what Christ did for me, instead of what I could do for Him then things changed. The amazing grace He gives wipes away all struggle, all self effort, all shame. How blessed am I? Truly blessed! Amen! Don't  get caught in sacrifice thinking that is all that is required. Don't be weighed down with guilt but instead be lifted up by relationship...

What am u going to do with you, Ephraim? What am I going to do with you Judah? Your loyalty is like the morning most and like the early dew that vanishes. Hosea 6:4 Ever had a fair weather friend? They disappear like the morning mist. They are your friend while all is good but leave you when things for you are bad. God is not like this, He is consistent! We need to understand and appreciate consistency. Today is Mother's Day and mothers are, as a general breed: faithful and consistent, never giving up on their children. Sometimes to our own detriment we will give and keep on giving. Our God is generous and always there. As we need to love and honour our mothers, we also, moreso, need to love and honour our God. Amen!

Let us strive to know The Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring showers that water the land. Hosea 6:3 Knowing The Lord does not happen by osmosis or just attending church on Sundays. Just as in any relationship as we spend time with that person we get to know them and love them. If we choose a bad relationship then we are infected with their bad, however if we choose good then we are challenged by their good.  By choosing The Lord God above all other Gods we open the door to His goodness, His purity, His righteousness. As we open our hearts to love we adopt the ways of the one we love. Why believe we are good enough? Why believe we have enough? Why give up or pass up best for less and know that forever we will regret our decision? The above verse poetically describes The Lord and His desire for us. He is so good! Amen!

I announce what is certain among the tribes of Israel. The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary markers, I will pour out My fury on them like water. Hosea 5:10 The Lord is forever steadfast. He does not change a thing to suit an occasion. We do. If a scripture does not suit us we alter it. The princes of Judah were expected to lead correctly and not alter God's word. However they did to the injury of the people they led.  When Jesus was on earth His biggest fights were with the rulers who led unfairly. He did not fight with the lowly, ordinary people who did not claim authority. The Lord expects leaders to not line their own pockets with what they steal from those under them. If they do His fury is revealed.

I will depart and return to My place until they recognise their guilt and seek My face; they will search for Me in their distress. Hosea 5:15 Sound familiar? The heavens are brass, God has left me, He does not answer my prayers. At least He is consistent. We fail to realize how much God protects and keeps us, until He has withdrawn. Then we know and become distressed. We are consistent in foolishness and sin. The Lord has seen this forever, yet He is faithful in Himself and His word. He does not require justice any more as His Son paid that price but He still leaves the room. He makes Himself a friend to those who obey and walk in His ways.  So if He's not talking check out where you are. Amen!

Their actions do not allow them to return to their God, for a spirit of promiscuity is among them, and they do not know The Lord. Hosea 5:4 Jess said: ' a little leaven leavens the whole lump.' He used the analogy of make bread and the use of yeast. Yeast when allowed to sit imparts its properties to all the flour in which it is placed. He said this to show that entertaining sin, even if we think it small, infects our whole spirit and then we find ourselves lost. If our enemy can get us to think about something, something destructive, then in time we are destroyed. The apostle Paul tells us: 'whatever is good and clean and lovely, think on these things.' He knows that our mind is a fertile field that needs good input so that as we entertain good things, things that will benefit us and complete us, not things that will destroy us, we prosper. From the above verse we see that there comes a time when we don't know how to return tithe Lord, we become completely snared. ...

Rebels are deeply involved in slaughter. Hosea 5:2 Rebels that break our at perceived injustice often end up being as violent or worse than this they rebel against. There is only one thing worth rebelling against: the flesh controlled by the enemy of our soul. Refusing to bow to the golden calf, the ways of the flesh. Rebelling against authority is not spoken well of in the bible. In the book of Romans we read of the need to go our authority and pray for our leader, so it may go well with us. Mew belling against abuse is important but we have to be sure what we are rebelling against is truly wrong and misguided. Amen!

For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn cow. Can The Lord now shepherd them like a lamb in an open meadow? Hosea 4:16 You may not have seen a dairyman endeavouring to herd his cows into the milking shed but I grew up in a small farming community and each morning my dad would take us with our billy can to the dairy to collect our milk. We also discovered that the farmer had to tie back the back leg near where he would sit to milk the cow or she would kick him. Not very compliant. In the above scripture God refers to His people 'like a stubborn cow'. Lets look at the word 'stubborn'. What does it refer to? The dictionary says: having or showing  dogged determination not to change one's attitude or position on something, especially in spite of being given good  arguments or reasons. Do you know anyone like this? I do! Am I like this? I can be at times. God compares the cow to a sheep that will be shepherded. A big difference! My goal is to not make it hard for my Lord...

People without discernment are doomed. Hosea 4:14 Without discernment we are not aware as to how our actions affect the whole of our lives. Without discernment we live for pleasure and will chase excitement and experiences. Without discernment we do not see what is behind activities that lure us, our eyes are dim to the cost. Discernment is connected to wisdom and understanding. The book of Proverbs is full of wise counsel. If we want to be wise then we read material that will teach us wisdom. Insight comes as we entertain wisdom, discernment and wisdom are bedfellows. Everything has a cost, discernment weighs the cost. Be wise get discernment! Amen!

Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away one's understanding. Hosea 4:11 Indulging in sin that charges the emotions clouds good judgement. Wanting a high from sexual activity intoxicates as does strong drink but satisfies for a short while. Believing all you need is an emotional high or fulfillment is deception as both are good in the right context. Sexual fulfillment in marriage is sacred and wholesome yet promiscuity fueled by pornograpy can only lead to dissillusionment and dissatisfaction. My dad used to drink every afternoon and I began to dread the result. He would say and do nasty and unkind things. He had a problem he had not dealt with correctly and it controlled and destroyed him. He died with liver cancer. As the scripture says there is no understanding with addictions to wine and sex, both, out of control cloud good judgement. Stay free!

But let no one dispute; let no one argue, for my case is against you priests. You will stumble by day; The prophet will also stumble with you by night. And I will destroy your mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of Your God. I will also forget your sons. Hosea 4::4-6 Here The Lord is telling the priests and prophets their sin. Their mother is Israel. How important is it that leaders lead with truth and righteousness? Each of us must be aware that we lead someone, be it children or adults. It is important that we stay close to The Lord and lead as Christ did. He said: 'I only do what I see my Father do!' If we don't know what to do we should wait until we do know and not rush in without knowledge. I have been conducting a DivorceCare program and have been mindful of what The Lord is saying. I had a sense that He was working in var...

Hear the word of The Lord, people of Israel, for The Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land: there is no truth, no faithful love, and no knowledge of God in the land! Cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another. For this reason the land mourns, And everyone who lives in it languishes, Along with the wild animals and the birds of the sky; Even the fish of the sea disappear. Hosea 4:1-3 Sound familiar? Sounds like our society! What impacts me is that the land mourns, the wild animals and birds languish and the fish if the sea disappear. We have our social groups that endeavor to protect our land, our animals, birds and fish yet they do not deal with the heart of the matter, sin. The only tool mankind has is legislation and we know what effect it has, minimal. The only true answer is God. God changes hearts and convicts of sin, it is He who leads to repentance. Once repentance is found change will happen. ...

Then the Lord said to me: 'go again; show love to a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, just as the Lord loves the Israelites though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes'. Hosea 3:1 Fancy passing The Lord up for raisin cakes! How beneath Him, how beneath them! Fancy going back to a wife who was an adulteress! Now days divorce happens for less. Being someone who conducts DivorceCare classes I can say I do not see many who would entertain such a command. The hurt that Hosea must have experienced, the humility and perhaps disgust. How mixed up we become as we entertain darkness! Yet there is hope! The God of faithfulness reaches out with forgiveness. How good is that! No judgement, just forgiveness. What a God! Amen!

On that day (the day The Lord takes His people to be His wife) I will respond- this is the Lord's declaration.'I will respond to the sky, and it will respond to the earth; the earth will respond to the grain, the new wine, the oil; and they will respond to Jezreel.( God plants) I will sow her in the land for Myself, and I will have compassion on No Compassion; I will say to Not My People: 'You are My people' and they will say, 'You are My God'. Hosea 2:21 In the previous verses The Lord was saying how He would take His estranged bride (His people) and take them as His wife forever. In the Old Testament the people of God were continually wandering away to other Gods, every time they prospered and He would have to withdraw His protection and sometimes send them into captivity to humble them and bring them back. When Christ came He opened His arms to those outside the former parameters (Gentiles- us) and welcomed them in. Now He sees us through Christ and ...

I will take you to be My wife forever, I will take you to be My wife in righteousness, justice, love, and compassion. I will take you robe my wife in faithfulness, and you will know Yahweh. Hosea 2:19,20 Ever hear the saying: 'I love it when he talks dirty'? I prefer to say: 'I love it when He prophesies over me in faith'! God ramps it up into God style love: love for the unlovely, switches on His faith vision and speaks out if that. Yes! What a God! One minute He is chastising with good cause, the next He switches into future vision, through the cross and He is speaking power, love, life. This is the only way to love: with vision through the cross. This love is the only love that lifts up and causes miracles to happen. This love sets captives free, empowers the weak and conquers darkness. Amen!

Therefore, I am going to persuade her, lead her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. I will give back her vineyards and make the Valley of Anchor(trouble) into a gateway of hope. Hosea 2:14,15 In the previous verses of this chapter we hear how unhappy The Lord is with His bride(His people) who had forsaken Him and gone after other lovers (gods) thinking that these gods had provided them with blessing. God decided to block His blessing so that they could see their folly and turn back to Him. In the above verse we see the tender heart of God, willing to start again and take back His unfaithful bride. To assume God is mean and vengeful one only has to read verses like this where again and again God pursues His people. In the New Testament He gave His best and again was rejected, yet still He loves and opens the door to those who were not a part of the original people group, now anyone who believes can come in. The words used in the scripture above speak of a passiona...

And in the place where they had been told: 'you are not my people, they will be called Sons of the living God'. Hosea 1:10 Romans 9:25 refers to this scripture and talks about us Gentiles ( non-Jews) being called Sons of the Living God. In the Old Testament God was God of the Israeli nation but now. Through Christ the door has been opened. As I believe in Christ and welcome Him into my life I am made a child of God, no longer outside looking in but inside looking up. If I am a child of God and made welcome then I can settle and learn the house rules. In this house I will learn of the intense interest and love of my Heavenly Father. As I respond to Him I morph into His likeness. How good is that? I become confident, bold and at home. Amen! How good is The Lord and how good is His live towards me? Amen!

But I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will deliver them by The Lord their God. I will not deliver them by bow, sword, or war, or by horses or Calvary. Hosea 1:7 We all love to dictate how The Lord should help us. When we are in pain we make Him responsible for our quick deliverance and when it does not come can be despondent, angry or offended. I cannot rule another human let alone God. For a time as a parent I can rule but comes the day when I must yield and release. Being angry with children because they do not do as we expect makes the situation worse. We need to know how to lead and not manage. Managers command leaders lead. God alone is the convictor of sin and I am not He. God will do things His own way and in His own time. Release Him to be God, trust Him and watch Him go. Amen!

When The Lord first spoke to Hosea the prophet, He said to him: ' go and marry a promiscuous wife and have children of promiscuity, for the land is committing blatant acts if promiscuity by abandoning the Lord'. Hosea 1:2 Fancy being told to enter into such heartache! Knowing that you will love an unfaithful wife. Gomer, the woman Hosea marries bears him three children but because of her promiscuity their parentage was questionable. Why did God command Hosea to do this? God was wanting to speak to His people, His unfaithful wife, through Hosea. The pain that Gomer caused Hosea God's people were causing Him. Today we have a saviour, Jesus Christ, who is interceding for us. Do we cause Him pain? Scripture talks about us crucifying Christ again by our behaviour. If I have Christ in my life I have all the power of God to overcome and to be seated in heavenly places with Him. If I reject His gift of grace, determining to earn salvation, I throw the suffering He ...

But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross and I to the world. Galatians 6:14 I would like to say I am like this but, every now and then I boast and see how empty and vain it is, no one is impressed by pride. However, I can say the works is being crucified to me through the cross. Less and less do I care to go and look at stuff. I go when I have a need. There was a time when I delighted in the excuse to go off shopping. Now it is the opposite. All this week I knew that I was running out of toothpaste and every day I came home without venturing out of the office, except for yesterday. We had a training day in the lovely town of Armidale, NSW, Australia. It is a delightful town and currently made more beautiful by the autumn shades which are very pronounced there. There are a lot of old building and churches. After the course was finished my colleague and I had dinner at a nice l...

Therefore, as we have the opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10 The Lord gives us opportunity to give. Do we recognize that? Or do we think that giving in the bucket on Sunday is all that is required? As we interact with people, fellow believers is our Spirit open to the Holy Spirit? What are you doing Holy Spirit? What are you saying? What is the need? What does He want me to do about the need? Having a heart that is open to the Holy Spirit is important, allowing Him to lead when it comes to our finances is important. I remember a traveling evangelist and his wife who constantly looked for opportunities to give and saw The Lord pour resources into their laps. God is good and His miracles in finance abound if we avail ourselves and they usually start with us giving. Amen!

So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up. Galatians 6:9 Frustration comes out of the flesh or natural man. We become frustrated at timing because we are out of sinc with God. The art of walking in the spirit is in learning to track the Spirit's timing and to flow with Him. We are irritable and cranky when things don't go our way. But hey we have been warned. When God said: ' my ways are not your ways and my thoughts not your thoughts.' (Isaiah 55:8) He is letting us in on what will be required to allow us to mesh. (Dying to self-ugg!) We now have a choice: a life of frustration with us continually trying to railroad God into our program or a yielded life of peace. Years ago the Lord gave me a scripture: for you have need of endurance, so that you might prove the will of the Father and receive what has been promised. Hebrews 10:36 God was telling me to stop spitting the dummy, yield and flow with Him....

The one who is taught the message must share all good things with the teacher. Don't be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. Galatians 6: 6-8 Sowing and reaping are principles that live on. Just as gravity holds all things down; season follows season; night follows day, reaping follows sowing. Be it a word or a deed what goes out always comes back. It is important that we sanctify ourselves daily by the washing of the word and allow it to penetrate our innermost parts. What is God saying to us about our attitude to those in our world? What is He prompting us to give to our neighbour, our work colleagues, our friends, our family and our church? All does not exist just for us, conversely we exist to bring Christ to others. We were made to carry the glory of Christ and to let it shine. Amen! Tod...