The day with dianne Louise

Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20 You have heard the sayings: ' remember I love you'; ' all my love'; 'best friends forever'. We say these things when we are in relationship and want to remind the one we speak to that we love them. Jesus loved His disciples with a love they struggled to understand at times, he was constant, consistent, never flagging in zeal. Here Jesus was telling them, I will always be with you, even to the end of the age ( a long time). Of those who heard it we see some went on to impact their world greatly. Acts records their exploits. For those who are not mentioned we cannot be sure where they went. Acts does not give much attention to the apostle John, yet he wrote a gospel and three epistles. Depending on how much we believe someone when they say they love us, will depend the actions we do for them, in their name. We are called brothers and sisters, we are told we are seated with Christ in the heavenlie...

The 11 disciples travelled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus directed them. When they saw Him, they worshipped, but some doubted. Then Jesus came near and said to them, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and 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 28:16-20 We see here that there was more than Thomas who doubted. What made them doubt? Perhaps things did not go according to their script? Perhaps their grief was in the way? Yet Jesus came near and commissioned them to go in His name. He did not try and persuade them with words, He came near, then He gave them a commission. Personally, when God turns up the questions cease! Job had questions but when God showed up the questions were not important, He was. Presence beats information every time....

But one of the Twelve, Thomas (called Twin), was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples kept telling him, " we have seen The Lord!" But he said to them, "if I don't see the mark of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the marks of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe!" John 20:24,25 This is strong doubting by a fact man. However, Jesus turned up just for Thomas so that he would sort himself out and believe. He was a 'but' man! Are you one of these? What makes you believe? What evidence do you require? And does the evidence convince you? Possibly not. You see we all need a revelation of who Christ is to believe. I would like to repeat myself, you need a ReveLaTion! Revelation causes us to believe. This is a Holy Spirit thing! When we are little children, generally we love to believe in mystery, miracles, mayhem. Fairy stories, dragons, giants, witches, goblins, orks. All of these are made to please. We have a...

Jesus said to them again, "Peace be to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." After saying this He breathed on them and said, "receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them, if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." John 20:21-23 The Holy Spirit was given to Jesus for His ministry and now Jesus was giving Him to the disciples for their ministry. I find that the first command they are given after being sent is to go with the forgiveness of sin. Those who the disciples deemed receptive to the gospel, their sins were forgiven and those who rejected it were not forgiven. This is very weighty as I could not do it lightly. Romans 10:9 tells us: if you confess with your mouth 'Jesus is Lord' you will be saved." Then this is the criteria. But I would interceed for those I am reaching out to that they might come to the knowledge of truth. A minister I know continually says: if The Lord should tarry....."...

"Woman," Jesus said to her, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Supposing He was the Gardner, she replied, "Sir, if you've removed Him, tell me where you've put Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said, Mary." Turning around, she said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" Which means "Teacher." " don't cling to Me," Jesus told her, "for I have not ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and tell them that I am ascending to My Father and your Father- to My Gid and Your God." John 20:15-17 We can read the above scriptures and think nothing of the fact that Jesus made a detour, just for Mary and the disciples. He was on a his way to the Father and He appears to Mary in the garden. Mary had been a serious sinner, a nobody, despised and rejected by her countrymen and women. Yet, of all people, Jesus appears and gives a message. We can consider ourselves nobodies, not worth much or worth G...

'Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in; he saw and believed. They still did not understand the scripture which said he must rise from death. Then the disciples went back home. John 20:8-10 Jesus Himself said: " blessed are those who do not see, but still believe." This is where we come in. We are called blessed when we believe the word that is preached and open our hearts to Jesus and invite Him in. I am blessed indeed! I fellowship His Spirit and He makes me new every morning. Praise Him! The best gift in all the world in all of my life is Jesus and I am truly grateful to the Father for sending Him. Thank You Lord! 'Oh praise the alone who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead.' (Song- Jesus paid it all)

Why are you looking among the dead for one who is alive? "Remember what He said to you while He was in Galilee: ' The Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, be crucified, and three days later rise to life.'" Then the women remembered his words. Luke 24:5,7,8 How many times can we be told something, and not 'get it'? Many! We listen but do not listen. We can read our bibles and go to church in a stupor of 'my World'! Preoccupation with the things of this world is the starting point. Fellowshipping things of this world is the next step and making them Lord of our minds and hearts is the final step. Sounds like a false god! Yes! Yes. If we seek Him with our hearts, they are tuned, our souls then our emotions are tuned it and our minds, well then our thoughts are tunded in. Sounds like we are on the right station! Amen! As I travel a lot, (I am in Moree and Bingara today) I would rather listen to music on my iPhone than the radio because an out of tune...

But turning to them, Jesus said, " daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and your children. Look the days are coming when they will say, 'The woman without children, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed, are fortunate!' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' And to the hills, 'Cover us!' For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" Luke 23:28-31 Jesus is carrying His cross to the hill to be crucified and women are cying for Him. He takes time to prophesy over the coming days. What a guy! Our God loves to His own hurt. He loves full stop. He loves those who crucify Him, flog Him and abuse Him. What sort of love is this? I am not required to be good enough. I am not having to attract His attention by good behaviour. I can turn to Him, in my sin and ask Him to come and He will run, without judgement. Amen! What a God! Jesus i...

Finding that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days. Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time he had wanted to see Him because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see some miracle performed by Him. Luke 23:7,8 Many people wanted to meet Jesus and for many different reasons. Some come to church to see something because their interest has been piqued. However, some go away changed and some unchanged. It depends on the heart of the person. We may judge from the outside but God sees within. There may be a hunger that nothing satisfies or there could be complete disinterest or disregard. There were members of the Sanhedrin who had met The Lord and were hungry for more, their hearts were open. There were the sick who wanted healing. Some saw more than healing, some saw the love that was outstretched to them and took that love. There were ordinary fishermen who Jesus called to follow Him. Only one called himsel...

In the evening of the first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because of their fear of the Jews. Then Jesus came, stood among them, and said,  " peace be to you!" John 20:19 On Friday at my cousin's funeral I looked at the coffin and was pondering the woman I knew was in there but did I want to see? No! I reasoned she would not look good. Now imagine if suddenly the lid opened and she sat up! What would be the reaction? Screams! Fear! Intense fear! Now, imagine what the disciples experienced. For a guy who managed to get to the heart of Jesus and brought out the emotion of the experience of that love he fails me miserable here. His account of Jesus' re-appearance is so factual, it is not true to John. I wonder why? Jesus had previously appeared to Mary in the garden and to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Now He was here! When someone dies you experience grief and it manifests itself in many ways. I get angry: angry at...

On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. But Mary stood outside facing the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look inside the tomb. She saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus' body had been lying. They said to her, "Woman, why are you crying?" John 20:1; 11-13 Mary loved Jesus with all that she had and has watched Him be crucified and now He had disappeared. None of the disciples caught the resurrection. Mary definitely didn't. She was in grief and could not see beyond her emotional pain. Yet God had a plan. Satan thought he had beaten the Saviour. How foolish! The Sanhedrin thought they had rid themselves of Jesus and the disciples thought they had lost their treasure. How wrong can everybody be? When we lose someone, that is the end of a time period in our lives, but there is more. We cannot see it, ...

There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Jose, and Salome. When it was already evening, because it was preparation day (that is the day before the Sabbath), Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, came and boldly went in to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate was surprised that He was already dead. After he bought some fine linen, Joseph took Jesus down and wrapped Him in the linen. Then He placed Him in a tomb cut out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. Now Mary Magdalene and Mary the Moree of Joses were watching where He was placed. Mark 16:40; 42-44; 46,47 Jesus died in six hours. Other took days to die. Pilate was surprised because of this fact. Although most of the disciples had ran away the women who had supported Jesus were there to re end and watched all that transpired. After the Sabb...

Then the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom. Mark 15:38 The death of Jesus split the veil in two. No longer was there a barrier. Today at my cousin's funeral I was told by her pastor that when my cousin began reading her bible she did not have a 'new brith' relationship but as she read she received the revelation of her need. I praise God for this! The congregation heard the gospel and my mother and I spent time with relatives we had not seen for many years. This afternoon I had to face my grief. It is unusual that we will grieve even though we know those we love are in a better place. I had to be careful that I recognized my grief and did not abuse others who we're trying to continue business with me. Not everyone is on the same page. I went shopping! This is rare for me. I shop when necessary and today I pushed through grief and bought two items that were necessary and then came back to our accommodation. (A new bag and a pair of sandals for ...

So Pilate asked Him, "Are You King of the Jews?"  He answered him, "You have said it." Pilate asked them again, " then what do you want me to do with the One you call the King of the Jews?" Again the cried, 'Crucify Him!" Mark 15:2,12,13 In their sin and depravity the Jews thirsted for the blood of Christ. He had told them that they must drink His blood, it was now going to be poured out. The blood of Christ cleanses me if all sin, it liberates me and gives me eternal life. Today I give testimony to one who knew forgiveness of her sins and received eternal life. I rejoice for her, she is free. Janice, my cousin, fellowshipped daily with the Son of God, an now in death she is with Him forever. I am grateful that the Jews called out for Christ's blood, they were the tool for the liberation of all mankind. Amen!

At three Jesus cries out with a loud voice: " My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Mark15:34 We all feel forsaken at times and at times we are forsaken. Some times we think we are but are not. It is our broken personalities that are talking.  I watch some families, children all brought up by the same parents but because they came at different times, the times they were born and their perceptions of those times, left unchallenged, formed their world view. Now a world view is a view but not the gospel truth, it is just a view. Tonight I am in Woolgooga to attend a funeral of a dear cousin who went to be with the Lord. She had three children and they all had very different views of their mother. They are all handling her death differently. I am the eldest if six and when my dad died discovered that we all had a different view.  I was putting the eulogy together at the time. Perceived wrongs can tie us up in a cage for years. I remember my dad was offended about something my ...

Those who passed by were yelling insults at Him, shaking their heads, and saying, "Ha! The One who would demolish the sanctuary and build it in three days, save Yourself by coming down from the cross! In the same way, the chief priests and scribes were mocking Him to one another saying, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself! Let the Mesiiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe. Even those who were crucified with Him were taunting Him. Mark 15:29-32 What caused these people to hate Jesus? We already knew that the scribes and Pharisees were envious of His popularity. What about the others? Those crucified with Him? Ever watched a mob and how they become all inflamed about something and not bothering to investigate the truth, are carried along? Even people who had never be touched by Jesus are railing against Him. Why? The type of people that fill a mob are scarred, wounded people who know no better. Yet Jesus chose to dies for these p...

So when they had gathered together, Pilate asked them, " who do you want me to release for you- Barabas or Jesus who is called 'Messiah?" For He knew they had handed Him over because if envy. Matthew 27:17 Now we would imagine anger and rage to be the motivation to kill but here we find envy. Have you ever said: "I am so envious of you!" I am sure we all have. Envy rears it head when someone has what we want. Perhaps Cain killed Abel because of envy. God liked Abel's offering and not his own and so he killed. Mmmm! Interesting! So then envy is not innocent of blood and it is worth realising how dangerous it is. Satan was full of envy for Godly position that he led  a third of the angels to war and lost. He now wages war on mankind because we have the heart of God. Take another look within! What motivates you? Envy or the Spirit of God? Amen!

Sanctify them by The truth; Your word is truth. John 17:17 The word sanctify means set apart. How does truth 'set apart'? Accepting 'truth' as truth is the first step. We hear: 'this is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God', so often that the speakers of this line believe that if they say it they are truthful, even if they are not speaking the truth. The world's view of truth is very subjective. If I am god then truth is what I say it is. But I am not God, and I may fool myself and others part of the time but I will never fool God. Imagine standing before God and saying: " all is good, chill!" Imagine what He would say. I think He would laugh a huge belly laugh and then gently explain what truth really is. My version of truth will not save me from hell fire, it will not make me whole, it will not transform me or sanctify me. In fact it will make me more self-centered, more bound and probably more bitter. Not good! Go...

Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that he had been condemned! was full of remorse and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,"he said. "What is that to us?" They said. "See to it yourself!" So he threw the silver into the sanctuary and departed. Then went and hanged himself. Matthew 27:3,4 Judas, being brought up as any Jewish boy was, knew the law. The law states in Deuteronomy 27:25  anyone who accepts a bribe to kill innocent blood is cursed. Judas has spent 3 years with Jesus, the Son of God and watched Him forgive sins. Why did he not go to the Father and repent or find Jesus and repent? There was a belief that criminals received atonement from God through their execution. Perhaps this is why the Pharisees said to Judas, "see to it yourself." Perhaps they agreed with this thought. Judas' belief that the old way would be the right way, even though he knew more, chose to ...

"Sanctify them them by the truth, Your word is truth. John 16:19 Jesus told His disciples: I am the way, the truth and the life..." The Holy Spirit He was sending is the 'Spirit of Truth', and The word of God is truth. We cannot say:'I did not know what was truth, so I did this or that.' How do we find truth? By reading our bibles and praying, digging in deep and hanging on to God. Scripture tells us that there is no temptation that is uncommon to man and that Jesus, our High Priest was tempted just as we are, but did not sin. Therefore I need to strengthen my spirit so that it rules my fleshly appetites, because that is where ai am tempted. Jesus was tempted to shun the cross but He prayed and the Father sent His angels to strengthen Him. I am grateful He went to the cross. How about you? Who will be grateful that you overcame all that is against you? More than you will know. Amen!

I still have many things to tell you, but you can't bear them now. When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to You what is to come. He will glorify Me, because He will take what is mine and declare it to you. John 16:12-14 What does the Holy Spirit do? Let's see? : Guide us into all truth He will not speak His own thoughts He will speak whatever He hearse rom God He will declare what is to come He will glorify Jesus by taking what belongs to Jesus and declare it to the disciples. Pretty good deal! Do you want truth? Ask the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is truthful and reliable. Worthy of trust and relationship! amen!

I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God. They will do these things because they haven't known the Father or Me. John 16:1-3 Pastor Brian Houston posted a photo of our current PM in the forefront in NSW on Twitter. He is not only visiting the fire front but actively fighting the fire. In our recent elections our PM had a Facebook page and I read some of the comments of the haters. They were disgusting. These same haters will be vilifying our PM's efforts to fight the fires, just because they are haters. They do not know truth about the PM and they don't want to know the truth. Admittedly some with have a change of heart but generally speaking haters only know how to hate. Now let's bring this down close and personal. We all have attitudes, I do. I have little time for the Christians who sit and complain when all of heaven is...

I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is My command: love one another as I have loved you. John 15:11,12 My state is on fire and at the mercy of high winds, dry conditions and high temperatures. This is early in the year for such an occurrence. If I look at the devastation I am sad, disappointed and without joy. But my God continually tells me to 'look at Him.' Where is He is all this? He is our comfort, or refuge. Bad stuff will always be around but then so is our God and He is our source and supply, our refuge and our strength. What can I do? Love others as He loves me. This is not always easy. I am sure loving judas would have been a challenge to Jesus but He did all the same. He did not attack him publically, speak ill of him, trash his name and reputation. He did talk openly about being betrayed and did tell John who it was but the other disciples did not know. When someone upsets us we talk, I do.  Lord show me Y...

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper.'every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. John 16:1,2 I have moments in life when a cross road appears. It is at those times I must choose to grow because if I don't then I will not bear MORE, and get the chop. Recently I had one of those times. I knew I wanted to grow in my business and it seemed I was constantly being hindered. I went to church on that Sunday determined to hear from God, and I did. The Holy Spirit whispered: "give your first 10% of income into your business." I knew it was right because it was a Rhema word, a spirit word. I began to give. It hurt and for a few weeks my personal incomes was barely there but each time it was time to give I would pray and say: "God I give to you, I trust you!l I am now up to $1,000 for the fortnight and know I have only just begun. I am believing for more. I ...

"I assure you: the one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." John 14:12,13 This scripture poses a question to me: why are you not doing greater works than Jesus? I would have to reply, according to the scripture, "I must not believe in Jesus to that level."  I awoke yesterday morning at my aunts home praying for more boldness, clarity and anointing. I want to harvest souls. I want more than just telling good news I want souls. I then prayed for an opportunity to share again and it did not happen. I am going back next week and pray for an open door. The problem is us folks, actually it is between our ears, our believing. What can I do to increase my believing, my faith? Seek Him! Now seeking Him means leaving all other ...

If you love me you will keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of Truth. John 14:15,16,17 This is true of any relationship. If we love the person asking us to do something we will honour them by doing what they ask. Conversely, if we love ourselves and our own opinion more then we will not do as they ask. It seems, from this text, that the Counsellor comes to the obedient. I know that I can easily send Him away by the things I do, say or give time to, especially if they dishonour Him. The Holy Spirit is gentle and kind, holy and pure and does not live in darkness. I cannot expect Him to put up with me watching filthy movies, reading material that is disgusting and stay. The Holy Spirit is the 'Spirit of Truth'. Lies and deceit do not live in the same space. The presence of the Holy Spirit is more important that any pleasure. Amen!

Jesus told him (Thomas) :"I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me." John 14:6 Why is Jesus the only way? Each one of us would have friends who say: but there are only ways, there were other good men. But did they die for our sins for us? No! Then they are not an alternative way. If they did die for us was their sacrifice acceptable to God? No! I watched someone give another person a pouch of 'good saying' this week as a gift. The giver said:' you can read one a day and share them with others or apply them to your own life'. Can you? Are good sayings alone going to save you? No! Can you save yourself? Can you save others? No, You could say the rosary every moment of every day but it will not save you. You can sacrifice your body to be burned but it will not save you. Jesus said: "I am the way!" So who am I to argue with Him.  If He is he way then it would be worth our while to get to know Him and what He wan...

If you know Me, you will also know my Father. John 14:7 For those who have a stern image of the Father; read the gospels, especially John. There you see a whole, loving man. There you see the Father! Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit so we could feel God, sense God and befriend God. Give him a try! He is tops! I am staying tonight with an elderly aunt who lives alone and is a devout catholic. My aunt knows God through her rosary and her prayers. This is how I knew God before He showed Himself to me. Then He began to reveal the real Him. The real Him is much better than the one I knew before. Not at all remote! Most couples would agree the person they dated was not the person they married. Dating causes us to behave our best but marriage give a licence to behave our worst(or so many believe). With God the opposite occurs. He is constant and never changes but as we spend time with him we see Him as He really is, not as we imagine Him to be.

I give you a new command: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34,35 1 John 3:18 says: 'little children let us not love in word or in speech but in deed and in truth.' Our actions tell how we love.if we show patience, tolerance and our conversation is right then we are on the right tracks what will we do for others? On the other hand complaining about others does not bring a reward but a whining spirit. Yuck! Jesus had earlier in the above chapter of the gospel of John, told the disciples how to show love, my humility and preferring others over ourselves. It is good to settle, rest and wait on The Lord for his agenda. Amen!

"Your hear must not be troubled..believe in God; believe also in Me.  Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful." John 14:1;27 Jesus had just been telling the disciples about His death. Peter had sworn he would follow Him even to death but Jesus told him he would deny Him. Jesus then goes on to this chapter. What troubles our hearts? Many things: money, relationships, feelings of inadequacy, health, danger, to name a few. Jesus had shown Himself Lord of all these things throughout the gospel. He went on the say: " peace I give you." Peace is contagious. Being around the Prince of peace is something worth catching. Jesus told His disciples He would send them a comforter, the Holy Spirit. The Holy a spirit is a person, the third person of the trinity. He is real and His presence is real. He carries this peace. As we fellowship Him we are filled with peace. Allow Him room, you are ab...

Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. Now by the time of the supper, the Devil already had put it into a Judas' heart to betray Him. Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God and was going back to God. So He got up from supper, lay aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. Next He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples feet and to dry them with a towel tied around Him. John 13:1-5 As I opened this gospel this morning and began to read I sensed the love. I love this book because it is so full of love. Jesus loved His disciples, even Judas who betrayed Him. He washed the feet of all the disciples even Judas. Peter was impacted by what Jesus was doing. he did not want his Lord washing his feet but when Jesus told him he could have nothing to do with him if he didn'...

Every day while I was with you in the temple complex, you never laid a hand on Me. But this is your hour- and the dominion of darkness. Luke 22:53 There is a time for everything and only when Gid allows it. Jesus was protected until now. Now was the time for Him to pay the greatest price and win the greatest victory. Darkness thought it was it's hour of victory. How wrong it was. Yes it punished the Saviour, cruelly, but that was the plan, He was the perfect sacrifice. What darkness did not comprehend that there was power in the sacrifice to raise Christ from the dead and not before H e visited Hell and preached to the captives and led a host from the clutches of darkness, all the way to glory. How marvelous how glorious and my song shall ever be, how marvelous how wonderful is my Saviour's love for me. (Song) it was love that held Him strong, it was love that kept Him on the cross and it was love that breathed life into His still body in the tomb. It was love that went to Hell...

When He got up from prayer and came to His disciples He found them sleeping, exhausted from grief. "Why are you sleeping?" He asked them. "Get up and pray, so that you won't enter into temptation." Luke 22:45,46 Jesus is in the worst period of His life and His anxiety about the cross causes Him to sweat huge drops of fluid, yet His disciples, who are grief stricken are asleep. I have fallen asleep in such a state, haven't you? There is nothing that the disciples can do to change what is about to happen, but Jesus is concerned for the state of their spiritual life. Jesus had taught the disciples to pray, we know this because it is recorded in the gospels and they lived for three years with a man you prayed consistently and fervently. We can live with someone, do church with someone and still not catch their passion for God. What gets some up early is their hunger for God and His ways. Jesus was hungry for God, dependant on God and He went to the Father for al...

You are the ones who stood by Me in my trials. I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one on Me, so that you may eat and drink at My table in My Kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. Luke 22:28-30 Faithfulness carries a reward. The disciples had not yet faced the worst trial, the crucifixion of their saviour. They would desert Him then, but this He did not use to take away their reward. Interesting! I don't know that we would be so gracious. So therefore if faithfulness carries a reward and it is not judged as we would judge then is worth being faithful. For their faithfulness so far they were being promised kingdoms and close fellowship. Not bad! So how can we be faithful? Treat The Lord like a lover who we have promised to stay faithful to until death parts us. He has promised to never leave or forsake, in other words be faithful, just like a spouse. How to do? Spend time, read His word and wait in worship for revelation of truth, al...

Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. He went away and discussed with the chief priests and temple police how he could hand Jesus over to them, they were glad and agreed to give him silver. So he accepted the offer and started looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus to them when the crowd was not present. Luke 22:3-6 Why did a man who walked with the living God want to betray him and how did Satan gain access? Judas must have been cultivating hidden sin, his heart was unclean before God and man. What was Judas's sin? I suggest it was offence and offence over money, at the surface, but deeper, offence of a different nature. Perhaps offence that Jesus had the three: Peter, James and John that were his closest. Perhaps it was offense go a religious nature. Perhaps he agreed with the religious leaders about how the Messiah should behave. Whatever the reason he had an offended heart. This was the doorway for Satan. My challenge to you is: d...

Then He came and found them sleeping. "Simon, are you sleeping?" He asked Peter, "Couldn't you stay awake for one hour? Stay awake and pray so that you won't enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Mark 14:37,38 Jesus told us why we should pray: the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. I know people who cannot pray unless they walk. I must admit I pray my best prayers when walking. It is as if my flesh is doing what my spirit is doing, walking. Tonight we heard a message about 4 stages or groups of friends: those we should move on from; those we should move to; looking to keep passion and therefore finding friends of passion and finally after finding passion staying alive in passion. I had an opportunity to tell a dear friend why I did not want to go to her connect group anymore. I said: I am passionate about God and souls and have no time to listen to people who have given up their freedom because of laziness. Hard words bu...

He took Peter, James and John with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and horrified. Then He said to them, "my soul is swallowed up in sorrow- to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake." Then He went a little father, fell to the ground, and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, "Abba, Father! All things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me. Nevertheless, not what I will! but what You will." Mark 14:33-36 I have covered this story before in other gospels and am still impacted by what Jesus went through. Have you ever faced a terrorfying experience and known that you must go through it and no one could carry it for you, it was yours to do? I am sure you have, I know I have. It is one one the worst experiences in life, but we make it through. Jesus had to face the cross, be brutalised beyond recognition for us, for those who reject Him, and for those yet to meet Him. The Father had a plan, Jesus wo...

For this is our confidence: the testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshly wisdom but by God's grace. 2 Corinthians 1:12 Do you have a clear conscience about all you do? I know I don't when it comes to being frustrated by people who let me down. My problem is me and my ability to manage people, not necessarily always others.  I have been learning something lately and the learning and not knowing is more frustrating, that 'what I do not know' factor. I know I must ask God for His wisdom and I do, so where is the problem? Me! For some reason I am having to receive wisdom through a hose, I am the one going through the hose. If I realise the problem is mine then I can try and not mistreat those who are the instigator of my frustration. I keep hearing Nicky Gumbke saying: "be Kind!" In all I do, correction and interaction I must be kind. I have clients ...

"Now concerning that day or hour, no one knows- neither the angels in heaven nor The Son- except the Father. Watch! Be alert! For you don't know when the time is coming. It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his slaves gave each one his work, and commanded  the doorkeeper to be alert. Therefore be alert, since you don't know when the master of the house is coming- whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. Otherwise, He might come suddenly and find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!" Mark 13:22-27 We are also told to be alert for another reason: 'your enemy the devil roams around seeking someone to destroy. Staying true to the course is so vital. The Lord is returning and coming to take His to Himself and in the meantime we have an enemy that prowls around seeking to destroy those who the Father is calling to Himself. Last week, a man whom I had share...

But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit- the Father will send Him in My name- will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. John 15:26 I want to know so much. I hunger for understanding and here is the answer. The Holy Spirit has it all. I have a grandson, Archie, who is in the: 'but why?' stage. I think I am still there. The sense of wonder has not left me. The questions: 'how can I do thins?' 'How does that work?' 'What is the way?' 'But why?' linger with me. Many years ago I had a prophesy over my life. I was told: ' you're in for the ride of your life!' I think knowing the Holy Spirit and having an inquisitive nature leads me on that ride.  His thoughts are new every morning. God is not he 'same old, same old!' He is new and fresh and full of vigor. I want to live and breathe 'new' not old. My God has created so much to keep me wondering and discovering Him forever! Yesterday I spoke with a wo...

The Lord was devoted to you and chose you, not because you were more numerous than all peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But because The Lord loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a strong hand and redeemed you from the place of slavery. Deut 7:7,8 Love this scripture! God does not judge like we do. He looks deep within. He saw us being formed and loved us. He delights in all the new beginnings. My feelings of inadequacy does not count as truth, they are just feelings, probably resulting from wrong thinking. This morning at Rotary I was able to share my life with about 50 members. When I had finished a talk I called: But What if I Can? I was asked: 'what are you passionate about now? ' I replied: "The Lord, and people. I love people more than things, they are more precious that gold or precious stones because they are more important." My God would agree for He gave up His only Son to die cruelly in our place. I wo...

"No household slave can be the slave of two masters, since he will either hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't be slaves to both God and money." The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and scoffing Him. And He told them: " You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting to God's sight. Luke 16:13-15 How do we know if we are a slave to money? Perhaps we put it before relationships.  Our culture loves money because it buys us 'toys'. We value our life by the car we drive, the house we live in and the stuff we fill them with. Jesus told us in Matthew 6 what our priority should be: the kingdom of God, and if we do that then all we need will be added unto us. This is a shift of focus. No longer me but He. I love the last verse: for what is admired by people is r...

A faithful man will abound with blessing, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. Proverbs 28:20 What is my focus? Am I seeking to be a blessing or to take a blessing. Jacob wanted first place and sought an opportunity to obtain Esau's birthright. He deceived his father and angered his brother and ended up having to run away from the mother he loved. Deception is not the path, however trusting The Lord for justice does. Joseph had a dream of his future but sharing it brought him into slavery. Time in prison taught him to wait on The Lord and He indeed did establish him. Our ways are not God's way and we must seek them and follow them. Amen! His paths drip with abundance but seeking the giver will release them not the gift first.

For My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on Me, he will also live because of Me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread that the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever. John 6:55-58 There are so many interesting things to eat these days but none satisfy forever. Our western culture is obsessed with food, the preparation of it and consumption of it. Our size tells us we are too focused on it.  The children of Israel were obsessed with food, when Moses led them out into the dessert. They wanted what they had before: leeks and onions. They complained and God gave them manna. They further complained and God sent quail.  Yet there is one food, spiritual food that satisfies more than any other. The word of God, which is Christ. If our spirits are full then we are b...

I must do the works of Him who sent me while it is still day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. John 9:4,5 You are the light of the world. A city situated on the top of the hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14 Wake oh sleeper arise!  Christians can agree that Jesus is the light if the world but many would not know how He can been seen or shown. In Matthew we are told we are the light of the world. Now there's a conundrum! How do I be 'the light of the world'? I know that as I uncloak Christ in me I affect those in my world. They are happier when I am around, their health is better and in general 'life' is better. Why is that? My bible tells me: 'Christ in me is the hope of glory.' Colossians 1:27 I carry this treasure around inside me. I am the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Japanese families have butsudans in their homes, little temples in their houses. These temples are pivotal to all the goings on...

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1: 2,3 Imagine being remembered so well? Steadfastness is another word for faithfulness. A steadfast person is steady, reliable, consistent. A faithful person is steady, reliable and consistent. The other things Paul groups with steadfastness are: works of faith (there's that word again); labours of love. So we can safely assume that along with steadfastness are works of faith and labours of love. Today I travelled to Maroochydore to see a woman who had been greatly helped by my family when we were heading up a local church in Tamworth. This woman had called me wanting financial planning assistance because she knew me to be: faithful and steadfast. I was honored to have this woman think so well of me. Tonight I took my landlady to church, she loved it and...

Forever, oh Lord, Your word is firmly fixed in the heavenlies. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You have established the earth and it stands fast. Psalm 119:89-90 When I read my bible I see again and again God's encounter with mankind.  The fact that He bothers to want a relationship with us amazes. Our history is replete with mythologies in which the gods live their own lives and endure puny mankind. It would be natural to assume our God is fickle like all created gods but He isn't He is faithful and true. My bible tells me I have a holy God who looks for faithful relationships, friends. Moses was considered a friend of God. He was flawed, just like us, but he was hungry for more and faithful to his relationship with his God. Our God does not require perfection but faithful relating, through good and bad. We all have friends, some we have had for many years. We have been through much together. Our God is one such friend who never fails His word. Our expectations o...

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 What causes us to waver? Doubt, fear? Condemnation? Yes! All of these! Therefore what is being asked of us? Trust when blinded by circumstances! Hold fast to God'a word and test it, prove it faithful! Our experience tells us: 'everyone lets me down, sometime. Yet what does God say? 'I am faithful!' This is where faith comes into it's own. Trusting in a God we cannot see in times when we cannot see requires faith and as we trust, we see God! Amen!

For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son so that whoever believed in Him would have eternal life. John 3:16 Throughout the Old Testament we see verses that tell us our God is full of 'loving kindness, faithfulness and mercy.' The evidence of this is He did what He promised to do: send His Son to redeem the world. The greatest evidence anyone can show is to faithfully do what they said they would do, in other words, be faithful to their word. Scripture tells us that God honors His word above His name. This is important! We need to know that the God we worship and the God we serve is trustworthy. He does what He says He will do. Amen! This past week I have stayed with a woman I met by placing an ad in a paper, looking for accommodation. I began to sense God was at work. Last night we talked for several hours. She told me when she was small she went to Sunday school and then grew up an went away from her faith. She is unhappy and wants to come back to church, ...

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3 Many a divorcee who has experienced unfaithfulness has been tempted to throw away faithfulness in their own lives; in fact many do.  Yet I am here to say: ' don't give up, be faithful and trust the God who made you.' Faithfulness is not found often in the world but when it is it blesses. Healing is in faithfulness. My God has been faithful to me as I have faithfully clung to him. He has made me whole. Amen! Today I had a breakthrough in healing in my life and the life of my family all because I listened and obeyed. I trust my God to be my all and be my source and supply, He is so faithful. His faithfulness calls forth from me faithfulness, in fact it commands it in me. And now I am free! Amen! Don't give up or yield to self-pity or laziness. Our God is good and will not fail. Amen!

I have not concealed Your righteousness within my heart; I have proclaimed Your faithfulness and Your salvation. I have not hid away Your steadfast love and Your truth from the great assembly. Psalm 40:10 A Christian's relationship with God is not for us alone, it is to be shared. We have the One who brings peace, rest and joy within. The world longs for these things. We can assume they are content, but they are unhappy. We have the source within. Let's let Him out! We become dulled and unfaithful the more we eat at the table of darkness. If we struggle to spend 15 minutes a day with The Lord but watch 4-6 hours of TV a night we are fellowshipping at the wrong table, we are eating poison. This poison robs us of our voice an makes us believe we have nothing to give. Stay away from that which dulls! Stay sharp! You have answers! He is never unfaithful, He is ever ready to touch, heal and save. We need to stay faithful. Amen!

Your mercy and loving kindness, oh Lord, extends to the skies, Your faithfulness to the clouds. Psalm 36:5 The Psalmist is trying to use an analogy that we can understand by saying that God's mercy and loving kindness extends to the skies, in other words unfashionable. Ever heard a mother tell her child she loves them to the sky and back? Something like that is being used to describe our God's faithfulness. In other words He is good! Our circumstances may tell us He has become unfaithful, but they are wrong. I remember recently being stretched to breaking point and had to dig deep to go again, 'yet will I praise You!' was my cry. I praised my way out of the bog and now it is just a memory. I was washed up, empty of anything but a will to praise and that was a sum, flickering wick. It only takes a spark to get a fire going! Hang on! He is faithful! Amen!

But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered as a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value  of knowing Christ Jeaus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ and be known by Him,  not having a righteousness of my own based on the law but one that is found through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on Christ's faithfulness. Philippians 3:7-9 Strong words from Paul, that all that is worldly is filth. However he was saying the worldly treasures meant nothing to him but knowing Christ was his greatest treasure. The greatest treasure is Christ's faithfulness. Christ's faithfulness enables our faithfulness. A Christian does not have the excuse that they had lost the ability to be faithful, because he has Christ. The power is not in ourselves, or we could boast, it comes from Christ. Our God is good! In Him is all ...

He will cover you with His feathers, you will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield. Psalm 91:4 We see here God's faithfulness is a protective shield. God is faithful towards us. What He says He does. We can believe His word. For myself others must be able to trust my faith towards The Lord. He never fails, He is always right and good.  Can others trust my faith? I pray they can. As aspect of faithfulness is trust. Can I be trusted? I can trust The Lord and I can trust His work in me. I pray I am able to be trusted with God's word and what has been given to me for others. Faithfulness is a protective shield, let's use it and provide it for those coming behind. Amen!

For by grace you have been saved through faith, this is not your own doing it is the gift of God, not from works,  so that no man may boast. Ephesians 2:8 Faithfulness, the state of being full of faith is not something I can produce in myself.  Yet as I press into God in a given situation He imparts faith to me.  For example in my business life I have a vision to grow but come to stages of breakthrough where a new system has to be developed in order to hold the new, so I press into God for that because I do not have it in myself. He sees what I do not see and I praise Him for that. As I live in Him I change into what He sees. Faith for the change is from Him. Amen! I am grateful that He is faithful to me and I can, in turn, be faithful (full of faith in Him). It is interesting that the dictionary gives, as an illustration, faithfulness in marriage. Faithfulness is more than abstaining in adultery,  it is having faith for your marriage. Amen!