The day with dianne Louise

Their actions do not allow them to return to their God, for a spirit of promiscuity is among them. 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 5:4;15 The absence of the Lord is a dry experience. It does not mean He ceases to love, that is not in Him but He does all He can to awaken our souls to The lack of His presence. The wrong response is to feel sorry for myself and then wander further away doing foolish things. My role is to restrain my feet from wandering, to stay in the slipstream and stay close. As I stay close I see what He sees, I hear what He hears and I am a part of what He does. To know I am in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing is all I need. Amen!

Let us strive to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like rain, like the spring showers that water the land. Hosea 6:3 The Lord continually, throughout scripture tell us to seek ahim with all our hearts and we will find Him. This was my case. I sought Him from the day I first recognised He was what I wanted at age 4. Yet I am sure my heart was refined and challenged over the years so that my desire was a desperate one. Now I am compelled to seek Him as my spirit thirsts just as my flesh does. I cannot allow it to be dry or it cries out in desperation, "I am parched!"  God's presence waters my spirit! His word cleanses my soul. He is desperate to be found by us, He longs to share His oceans of love with us, His valleys of provision, His night sky full of understanding. He is worthy to be found, worthy to be praised. worthy! All that I am needs to connect with my God, all: body, soul, spirit, needs refreshing and He is the one to refresh...

They will eat and not be satisfied, they will be promiscuous and not multiply, for they have abandoned their devotion to the Lord. Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away one's understanding. Hosea 4:10, 11 There is no satisfaction outside the Lord. Remember the song, ' I can't get no satisfaction!' This song tipifies most of mankind. Stuffing pleasures and things into the God-shaped hole do not work. There is only one thing that truely satisfies and that is time with Him. Promiscuity is not where it is at. Disease lives there. Alcohol abusers is not the answer, death waits there. My grandmother drank herself into oblivion because she was unhappy, she died at 52 a very ill woman. When my dad drank he abused verbally. Not a pretty sight. I remember as a child seeing the local town drunk come by and want to drink our methylated spirits. How sad is that? Tonight I went for a walk and talked to the Lord. I told Him I want what comes out of Him. Yesterday He open a door in...

But let no one dispute, let no one argue, for My case is against you priests. You will stumble by day; the prophets 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 priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your sons. Hosea 4:4-7 It is sad when leaders fail to seek the Lord and walk in His ways, then knowledge of God is forsaken and mere liturgy takes its place. Every time a disaster occurs in my country we see images of churches filled with people who do not normally go to church and usually these images are of churches steeped in ritual and not much else, the life is missing. Leaders are more accountable, their flock need to hear knowledge of God and when this is lacking they flounder. If the gospel is not preached there is no hope. The message of the Cross is pivotal. The Old Testament merely shows the way to the...

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 4:1b-3 We hear a lot today about how we as mankind are destroying our planet. We tear down our trees to build houses and pulp them for various goods, we pollute our skies, rivers, oceans and land with our refuse. When we live for ourselves we don't care about the impact we have in what we do, we are dull and insensitive to destruction. Yet our government s refuse to take us in hand and they then are party to our sin. Greed rules! God tells us in these scriptures than the earth mourns when we are living in sin, but it also tells us that the earth rejoices when righteousness prevails. It is much better to live in a land that rejoices and works with...

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." So I bought her for 15 shekels of silver and five bushels of barley. I said to her, " you must live with me many days. Don't be promiscuous or belong to any man, and I will act the same way toward you." Hosea 3:1,2 I am divorced as my husband chose to find another woman rather than fight for our marriage. I imagine what it would be like for God to tell me to go and take my husband back. It would make me feel very low because I would have to take back someone who did not really love me or understand how to love me. It would be a severe challenge. Yet our God does this again and again. Each time we chose our own god, instead of trusting Him with all that we are, we chose a foreign god. Again and again and again and again He forgives and makes room for us to dwell with Him...

For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth; they will no longer be remembered by their names. On that day I will make a covenant for them with the wild animals, the birds of the sky, and the creatures that crawl on the ground. I will shatter bow, sword, and weapons of war in the Land and will enable the people to rest securely. Hosea 2:17,18 When a person invites Christ into their lives they become the bride of Christ. As His bride He behaves like a husband who protects and enjoys His wife. He does not lead her into calamity. Scripture tells us that 'he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High dwells securely.' When we step out on our own and trust on our own arm, our own strength, our own wisdom and knowledge then we step out of the secret place and into the firing line. Our hope is in the Name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. Jesus told us to abide in Him and He would abide in us. This is a safe place, a place of rest. Amen! 'I will respond to th...

Therefore I am going to persuade her, lead her to the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. Then I will give her vineyards back to her and make the valley of Anchor into a gateway of hope. Then she will respond as she did in the days of her youth, as in the day she came out of Egypt. In that day- this is the Lord's declaration- you will call Me, "My Husband," and no longer call me "My Baal." Hosea 2:14-16 God was going to strip away all that Israel knew because they had taken God's blessing for granted. He was going to take His people back into the wilderness, speak tenderly to them and win them back in the pace called Anchor, which means trouble. I don't know about you but for me He is continually bringing me to a place of clarity and awareness about Himself and the reality of my world. The times of clarity are in the midst of much pain or anguish. God has shown me He is my husband, friend, family, He is my provider and giver of all good things, He car...

For she thought, "I will go after my lovers, the men who give me my food and water, my wool and flax, my oil and drink." Therefore this is what I will do; I will block her way with thorns; I will enclose her with a wall, so that she cannot find her paths. Hosea 2:5b,6 The children of Israel had given their hearts to the providers of natural things, yet how easy is this to do. Have a look deep inside you heart and you will probably find that you rely on someone, or a whole lot of someones to give you happiness, provision and satisfaction. When anyone or anything else takes the place in our heart of our provider, He is jealous. The Lord is. Instantly telling me: " Look at Me!" Even when I get an inkling of where my provision is coming from I cannot chase it but must chase the Lord. The reason I say this is because there are a lot of seemingly things in our world. It may seem that provision comes a certain way or by a certain person but they may be only the beginning o...

She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter, and the Lord said to Him: "Name her 'No Compassion', for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel. I will certainly take them away. 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 and cavalry. Hosea 1:6,7   I am grateful that I did not live in such a time and be the prophet naming his children such awful names. I am grateful for Christ who redeemed us from the curse of the law, so grateful.   Without Christ all hope is gone, yet with Him all grace is mine.   The burden is lifted all I now need to do is walk in faith trusting the blood of Christ to cleanse me from all sin.   In this day of social media I watch how the politicians in my country are lambasted. They are dammed if they do and dammed if they don't.   Yes they do foolish things at times, but then so do we. Y...

Name your son Jezreel, for in a little while I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu and put an end to the Kingdom of the house of Israel. On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel. Hosea 1:4,5 Jehu was a great commander who God chose to be king and his first role was to anhilate the house of Ahab at Jezreel. However his family went on the be just as corrupt as the people he slaughtered and what he sowed, he reaped. I find the violence of the Old Testament horrible and am so glad Jesus came with the dispensation of grace. No one was able to do right, and no one still cannot without the power of His grace. Tonight I went to see the movie Unbroken. It was about men caught by the Japanese and taken to prisoner of war camps in Japan. The brutality was severe, yet the story revolved around endurance and forgiveness. The main perpetrator was a young Japanese soldier who spoke English but who delighted in brutality. The hero Loui was a former Olymp...

The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, Kings of Judah, and of Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel. When the Lord first spoke to Hosea, He said, "Go and marry a promiscuous wife and have children of promiscuity, for the land is committing blatant acts of promiscuity abandoning the Lord." So he went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. Hosea 1:1-3 How would you manage if, for the first time that God spoke to you He told you the type of person to marry was not going to be a faithful person? In this modern day the younger generation have taken promiscuity to a new level. Sexual migration is quite common. It is even flaunted on Facebook. For a young man or woman who is not promiscuous this could be very troubling. God chose Hosea to be His mouthpiece. He was faithful to his God and would prove faithful to his mate. He was about to suffer. The Christian is God's mo...

Some take pride in chariots, others in horses, but I take pride in the name of Yahweh, the Lord of hosts. Psalm 20:7 It is so easy to take pride in stuff we accumulate when the only treasure worth boasting about is knowing and being known by the lord of Hosts. I tend to boast about the 7 grandchildren I have, as they are the best, in my humble opinion. However the one who made them is better. Little Ollie, who is two, has finally become friends with me, on my last visit. We played Lego blocks together, he came alive. Today as I was leaving he came running out to say goodbye. I noticed and to me that is special. I have a Heavenly Father who notices when I notice Him and comes running. It was hard to say goodbye today but I will recover. Being a sookey female I am inclined to be emotional. Being home, by myself, will take adjusting but I have been looking forward to this so that I can spend more time with the Lord. I want to see His outcome, His plans and His ways. They are best. To find...

May He give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose. Let us shout for joy at your victory and lift the banner in the name of our God. May Yahweh fulfill all your requests. Psalm 20:4,5 These verses assume that having a sense of God's purpose and a desire would be one and the same. This is not invoking a blessing on any self-concocted purpose. As we step into 2015 I pray for guidance and a sense of God's purpose. I have so many ideas and being a passionate individual I have desires to reach out and mentor. It must be God's way, not mine. I pray for His way, His lead and His desire as I go. I am looking forward to going home tomorrow. I have had a good time with family and friends but am ready to start the year with purpose. May your year bring you closer to Him, may you walk in His ways and allow Him to direct your paths. Amen!

May The Lord answer you in the day of trouble. Psalm 20:1 On Thursday I was in a bus on my way to catch the ferry to Rottnest Island and I was observing the passers by. I saw a man with his two little daughters walking down the street. The two little girls, all of 4 and 5 were in such animated discussion. It was delightful to watch. Their father was a contrast. He looked like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and as if he were trapped with no way out. This morning I found myself praying for this man, that he would find a way to the cross and find true help. His delightful little girls needed him to find life and not death. I sensed his problems reached to suicude and if he could see what I could see, that would not be an option. Today I pray that this man finds his God. Amen! Today is the day of salvation. Today I find myself praying for all those who need to come. Today is the day!

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight oh Lord my rock and redeemer. Psalm 19:14 You would probably agree with me that at times we allow our hearts and minds to dwell on rough stuff. Critical thoughts about others an ourselves, thoughts about slackness or misbehaviour. I am so grateful for grace and the work of the cross. When I catch myself in these places I repent, pray for those being criticized, in fact prophetically praying and rejoicing for the mighty hand on God on their lives. It is only when I dwell too long on wrong stuff it has an opportunity of affecting my words and before I know it I am a poison pen. Always believe the best, hope the best, pray the best, say the best about others. Paul tells us on 1 Cor 13 that: love believes all things, hopes all things and love never ends. Love for our 'others' is never-ending in the heart of God so if He overlooks who am I to look. Amen!

The fear of The Lord is clean, enduring forever. Psalm 19:9 I either have a respect for The Lord, His word, His heart, His desires and all that He is, first and foremost or I pick and choose being my own god. What is it to be? Me or He? I am grateful He is God. Yesterday I went to Rottnest Island and the weather did not look promising. I called on The Lord as His daughter and expected an answer. The weather stayed fine all day. Mind you the boat trip across to the mainland was a wild ride as the seas had picked up, but then I like wild rides. Because I fear The Lord I know He hears my prayer and answers them. He loves me more than I could ever imagine. I had a 'red eye' trip back to Brisbane and am now waiting on my son to return from NZ so we can go home together. It is raining cats and dogs, just like last year. But this time my son has remembered to collect me. Today I don't mind the rain as I want to catch more sleep. My God goes before me. Amen!

The law of The Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of The Lord is sure, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7 I know people who should know better and are Christians. Who can help them? Only a revelation of The Lord and His truth can help them. It is The Lord who changes hearts, convicts of sin, chastises waywardness. Yet He can use me, if I walk in righteousness and do not become arrogant or proud and start telling what I know. Yesterday I saw my God in action. I know He has great plans for all of us and it is His will that needs to be done and His Kingdom to come. Amen! Today I begin an adventure. I am off to Rottnest Island to ride a bike and go snorkeling. Yay! Then a late flight home. I think it is called the 'red-eye' flight. I aim to sleep. For tomorrow another adventure begins with my grandchildren. Amen!

He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, so my arms can bend a bow of bronze. Psalm 18:33,34 Today I was laden with a burden to discover how to do all that I desired deep within. I see a business that is not there yet. One with technology that astounds. I knew I did not have the money to do this and asked The Lord for help. Today my employer showed us what they had created for us, all the technology I had dreamed of. There is one catch, it is not available for 12 months. Ah patience where for art thou? Another struggle I had was knowing where I want to be in performance and seeing where I was. The two were diametrically opposed. I know all that is possible and I know what I want. How to achieve it? I don't think The Lord is out of step with leading me and allowing this frustration. It will lead me to the answer. He is strengthening my arm to bend a bow of bronze. He is doing something great. I had said to The Lord: I wo...

The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament shows His handiwork. Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race. Psalm 19: 1, 5 The image of God being a bridegroom all excited because he is  marrying his bride and shinning with joy blesses me. A man on his wedding day is a picture of strength and complete joy. Some of the best sunrises and sunsets shout God's glory. At the rising it is an exaltation of a glorious day to come, at it's setting an exultant shout of victory for the day that has been.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Psalm 19 Our God is revealed in all He created and though modern man ignores and denies His existence they still long for happiness. Today I did a training session on how AMP (my employer) see that people need to live out of happiness. If people are happy, they work hard and succeed. I was sorely tempted to jump up and say: you cannot give mankind permanent happiness. They need to be united with the source of all joy before they are truely happy. I  am sad for my world, it wants what their God gives, without acknowledging His glorious presence. This afternoon I did another session in which we all were intent on discovering what clients want and they strategising how to give them what they want.  Someone, an elderly someone said, "but most people don't know what thy want a...

It is God who avenges me, and subdues the peoples under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore, I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name. Psalm 18:47-49 Last night, at the first night if my work conference I came across one whom The Lord had delivered me from, and was grateful. I also came across a man who reads my Facebook posts daily. I happen to read Zig Ziglar posts, John Maxwell Posts, among other motivational posts. Both of these men are (one is dead- Ziglar's son Tom now posts his dad's saying and is expanding into his own). My friend is grateful for the daily posts. He is a soft man and I believe open to the gospel. God is at work. He is one of many non-churched who read my posts. I pray for these Gentiles at heart. What is our God interested in? Who is his heart set on? Amen!

It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my ways perfect. Psalm 18:32 Today I travelled to Perth by plane, after not much sleep. I stayed up playing cards with my son and his wife and their friends then my little four year old roommate woke me around three in disturbed sleep. To top it off I had adjusted my alarm clock wrong and had it going off two hours before time. Ah! But I am here and have refreshed myself with a swim and a time of worship music. These functions unsettle me a little as we have to wade through crowds and go to various lectures all over the Perth entertainer centre. I am praying for a God moment and now I must walk in His strength as I am physically tired. I am grateful He does not get weary or need sleep and I can depend on Him. Amen!

While Ezra prayed and confessed before the house of God, an extremely large assembly of Israelite men, women and children gathered around him. The people also wept bitterly. Ezra 10:1 Ezra's brokenness affects all the people. As he weeps and prays they respond with their own brokenness. The repentance felt is one leading to action. They were willing to separate from their foreign wives. Imagine the problems this was going to cause, women and children sent packing. Would they have somewhere to go? Would their families receive them back? Would these families of the foreign races accept this behavior? Imagine being responsible for all this homelessness? When we do what is wrong, there are consequences. If we do things in a back-slidden state, then get right with God, what happens to those we include in our sin? They are hurt, used and abused. We are responsible for our actions. Amen!

Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me, because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat devastated until the evening offering. At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation, with my tunic and robe torn. Then I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God. And I said: "My God I am ashamed an embarrassed to lift my face to You...."Ezra 9:4-6 Have you ever experienced this? Being so ashamed by the behavior of people who are supposedly with you and mistreating others and giving a bad witness?  Ezra was a man of integrity and expects the leaders to be the same. This man had travelled 900 miles to find out this. He was totally devastated, numbed with shock. When he gathered himself he humbled himself before God and prayed. His prayer would lead him to action. There is a process we need to go through. I am te type of person who is like Ezra. Initially I am numb with shock, then I pray and then my energy comes to move ...

After these things had been done (the handing over of the treasure to the priests), the leaders approached me and said: "The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the surrounding people's whose detestable practices are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perezites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. Indeed, the Israelite men have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has become mixed with the surrounding people's. The leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness! Ezra 9:1,2 Israel knew the importance of staying pure, especially in regard to who they married. They knew that marrying a woman of another race would lead to idolatry, as all the surrounding races of people practised idolatry. Do we, the Christians, still believe it is important who we marry? Scripture tells us not to be unequally yoked with non- believers. What do non-be...

We set out from Ahava River on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. We were strengthened by our God, and He protected us from the power of the enemy and from ambush along the way. So we arrived in Jerusalem and rested there three days. On the fourth day the silver, gold, and the articles were weighed out in the house of our God into the care of Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah. Ezra 8:31-34 Although this group of people had travelled 900 miles this scripture does not elaborate on the journey so we could assume it was uneventful. How good it is to arrive at our destination after travelling. Tomorrow I drive to Brisbane, hopefully for the last time as we soon will have flights between our cities. The drive will take about 8 hours and I will be driving by myself and thus doing all the driving. We have had some good rain so the journey will be a blessing. Last time I went up the land was in drought. It is my son's birthday over the weekend and he plans to take me div...

I selected 12 of the leading priests, along with Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and 10 of their brothers. I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the articles- the contribution for the house of our God that the king, his counsellors, his leaders, and all the Israelites who were present had offered. I weighed out to them 24 tonnes of silver, silver articles weighing 7,500 pounds, 7,500 pounds of gold, 20 gold bowls worth 1,000 gold coins, and two articles of gleaming bronze, as valuable as gold. Then I said to them, "You are holy to the Lord, and the articles are holy. The silver and gold are a free will offering to the lord a God of your father's. Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the chambers of the Lord's house before the leading priests, Levites, and heads of the Israelite families in Jerusalem." So the priests and Levites took charge of the silver, the gold, and the articles that had been weighed out, to bring them to the house of God in Jerusalem. E...

I proclaimed a fast by the Ahava River, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us, our children, and all our possessions. I did this because I was ashamed to ask the king for infantry and calvary to protect us from enemies during the journey, since we had told him, "The hand of Our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His anger is against all who abandon Him. So we fasted and pleaded with our God about this, and He granted our request. Ezra 8:21-23 How good is this? Have you ever done this? I have. But you know what? God was in it. He wanted Ezra and the Israelites to trust Him. Each of us needs to come to a place of trust with our God, trusting Him for protection and provision. In this modern day we do too much ourselves and rely too little on our God and He wants in.  He is good folks, very good! Amen!

I gathered them at the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there for three days. I searched among the people and priests, but found no Levites there. Then I summoned the leaders: Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, as well as the teachers Joiarib and Elnathan. I sent them to Iddo, the leader at Caisphia, with a message for him and his brothers, the temple servants at Casiphia, that they should bring us ministers for the house of our God. Since the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah- a man of insight from the descendants of Mali, a descendant of Levi son of Israel- along with his sons and brothers, 18 men, plus Hashabiah, along with Jeshaiah, from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and sons, 20 men. There were also 220 temple servants, who had been appointed by David and the leaders for the work of the Levites. All were identified by name. Ezra 8:15-20 To rebuild a temple and not have those to minister in ...

After these events, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he requested because the hand of Yahweh Hus Gid was on him. Ezra 7:1-6 And you, Ezra, according to God's wisdom you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people in the region west of the Euphrates who know the laws of your God and to teach anyone who does not know them. Ezra 7:25 This section of the book is Ezra's memoirs. Although the first part of the book had progressed to King Darius, we now go back to King Artaxerxes. We now see how the prophets were able, in the reign of Darius, to inspire the people to again build. God had sent them a man to teach them the word so that the word would bear fruit when the spirit came. Amen! Darius' opinion of Ezra was a powerful endorsement and freedom to rule, with wisdom. A teacher of the word is goo...

Now the construction of God's house in Jerusalem had stopped and remained at a stand-still until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia. But when the prophets Haggi and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God who was over them, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak began to rebuild God's house in Jerusalem. The prophets of God were with them, helping them. Ezra 4:24-5:2 The enemies of the Jews had stopped the progress before but a new king and a new Spirit had come. In a god's programme, now was the time. God's prophets encouraged the work to begin again.  It's amazing how faith comes when God speaks! The prophets have such a part in the body as they speak hope, future and life. The new would not look like the old. Sure they would use some of the old stones but that was all. The new breed of people would build what they could. Some older people longed for the old temple but i...

At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, the people who were already in the land write an accusation against the residents of Judah and Jerusalen. This is the text of the letter they sent to him: 'Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you have returned to us at Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and evil city, finishing its walls, and repairing its foundations. Ezra 4:6; 11,12 The enemies of God's people were not more worried about them rebuilding a temple, they were more concerned about the Jews gaining identity and a sense of purpose. Our enemy, the devil, wants us to be stateless, without walls, without focus or a sense of purpose. His goal is to prevent us from rebuilding our relationship with The Lord. Our God wants us reunited to him and free in the knowledge of who we are in Him, in a living relationship with Him. amen!

When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple for Yahweh, the God of Israel, they approached Zerubbabel and the leaders of the families and said to them, "let us build with you, for we also worship your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time King Esar-Haddin of Assyria brought us here." But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders of Israel's families answered them, "You may have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for Yahweh, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us." Then the people who were already in the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build. They also bribed officials to act against them to frustrate their plans throughout the region of King Cyrus of Persia and until the reign of King Darius of Persia. Ezra 4:1-5 An offer made is not necessary a good offer. The inhabitants of the land saw a resurgen...

So the family leaders of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and Levites- everyone God had motivated- prepared to go up and rebuild the Lord's house in Jerusalem. All their neighbours supported them with silver articles, gold, goods, livestock, and valuables, in addition to all that was given as a free will offering. King Cyrus also brought out the articles of the Lord's house that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and had placed in the house of his gods. Ezra 1:5-7 Do you see the difference between struggle and favour? When God moves on the heart of a king and people he rules, to give favour to those who they once held captive, who can stop Him? Who would have given these people the odds that this could happen? No one? Not many? You would be right. Yet who would have thought that this could happen to a rag tag buch of people who had been captured 70 years ago? But it did! What is your circumstance? Do you feel forgotten ? Written off? A has been? A no body? Don...

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The Lors put it into the mind of king Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout the entire Kingdom and to put it in writing: This is what Cyrus, king of Persia says: 'The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build Him a house at Jerusalem in Judah, whoever is among His people, may His God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem. Let every survivor, whereever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, and livestock, along with a free will offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.' Ezra 1:1-4 A period of discipline had come to an end. God's people had been taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar 70 years previous and now they were given freedom to return, to build God's house. God had put it on Cyrus' hear...

We also pray that you become fully mature. 2 Cor 13:9b Maturity in Christ, what does that look like? Is it a person who is serious all the time and cannot have fun? Is it a recluse? Is it someone who is whole and has a whole understanding of the truth? Natural maturing is assumed as a person ages. Yet I know many who are not. I, myself, have kept the ability to play like a child, this comes in handy with grandchildren. Does this make me immature? I am sure there would be some who think it is. Yet my grandchildren appreciate it, and so do I. I have a friend my age who is always joking. Now I struggle with this, but make myself stand back and look deeper. To be honest I can lighten up at times, so can you. So what is a mature Christian? I quietly think they are the rare breed of person who is whole inside and out, that Christ is given full reign and His word is king. Am I being too generous? Over Simplistic? I know in relating to people our personality also kicks in. A whole sanguine is ...

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognise that Jesus Christ is in you?- unless you fail the test. 2 Cor 13:5 Do you know the sign of life? Bright eyes, breathing, speaking? What are signs of spiritual life? Spiritual life! Do you recognise when you are dying spiritually? Forgetting to fellowship with the Lord, not reading your bible, not want to go to church, starting to entertain worldly thoughts, thinking other gods may have significant, living for self? When we are dying spiritually we do not think to go to God for answers, we go to the doctor, the banker, the counsellor, the medium. We start to use worldly wisdom for others, not offering to pray for people. We spend hours in front of TV or computer and barely think of the Lord. Conversely when we are full of life we want to have fellowship, bible study, are involved in church, love to sing, brinGod into everything. Jesus said to the church of Laodicea: ' you are neith...

For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want,'and I may not be found by you to be what you want, there may be quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. I fear tht when I come my God will again humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of te moral impurity, sexual immorality, and promiscuity they practised. 2 Cor 12:20,21 We tend to think of Paul as a hero of faith, and he was, but here he was battling with a church he had established for a right relationship. He talks of anticipated fleshly behaviour. Which part did he think he might play in this? Was he concerned that he too might stoop to such behaviour? I imagine he was concerned that he might as the letter indicates he is upset. Relational problems are devastating and when we fall out of grace with each other the nasty, fleshly behaviours arise.  As Paul is trying to resolve the base ...

Therefore, so that I woul not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I woul not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with The Lord three times to take it away from me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's poweraybreside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12:7-10 Paul is defending himself to the Corinthians and had just written about the fact that 14 years hence he was caught up into heaven and saw wonderous things. This all started because a false apostle had made accusations about Paul, endeavouring to glorify himself. However, Paul had an ailment that made him look small, and this was probably what the accuser was targeting. God had said to Paul that he needed to...

I repeat: no one should consider me a fool, so I too may boast a little. What I say in this matter of boasting, I don't speak as the lord would, but foolishly. Since many boast in an unspiritual way, I will also boast. For you, being so wise, gladly will put up with fools! In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someon devours you, if someone captures you, if someone dominates you, or if someone hits you in the face. I say this to our shame, we have been weak.  2 Cor 11:16-21 Paul is being human here. This blesses me. Throughout this chapter Paul defends himself, tells about the amount of sufferings he has had to endure. In verse 30 he says: 'if boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weakness.' This chapter does me good. I am passionate and consistent in my faith but also as a visionary am a dreamer of what could be. I could be accused of trying many things and failing to complete. Yet I am grateful I tried and discovered something, either about myself...

For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband- to present a pure virgin to Christ. But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a complete and pure devotion to Christ. For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you received a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly! 2 Cor 11:2-4 Paul considered himself a father in the faith and the Corinthian church as his daughter whom he was wanting to present to Christ as a betrothed. However, another man had come alone, one whom Paul calls a 'false apostle', and this man had disturbed them with a different gospel and put down Paul's ministry. This must have been very frustrating for Paul to have a spiritual daughter not able to recognise her father in the faith, however, I have seen this again and again. Some Chris...

For we don't dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves, they lack understanding. We, however, will not boast beyond the measure of the area of ministry that God has assigned to us, which reaches even to you. 2 Cor 10:12,13 This is very insightful. If I judge myself by myself, thus also is wrong, as wrong as judging myself according to others. Paul goes on the say in verse 17: so the one who boasts must boast in the Lord. My God is the judge and it is His opinion that counts. If I puff myself up judging myself to be something I am not, I fail. If I judge myself to be a worm, I fail. What does the Word of God say about me? This is the truth about me. At times I will boast, and I pray that the boast is in what Christ is doing in me. He is my strength and my song. He is my blessing and abundance, He is my wisdom and insight. Amen! I must first see myself as God sees me, function ...

For though we live in the body, we do not wage war in an unspiritual way, since the weapons of our warfare are not worldly, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Cor 10:3-5 Oh how glad I am that I have You Lord!  Oh how glad I have You as my point of reference! I would be lost in a sea of angry impatience without you, thank You! Paul is teaching us that mind-sets create strongholds and these strongholds are able to be broken. God's word and His Spirit confront strongholds of wrong thinking and demolish them. Praise God! By taking thoughts captive to obey Christ we are set free. Amen! Every time I sense I am inflexible I shed the skin (no I am not a snake). I will force a breaking of inflexible mind-sets. If I hear myself say: " I never do that," or "that's not me," I question it. Creativity...

Remember this, the person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should do as he has decided in his heart- not reluctantly out of necessity for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. As it is written: He scattered; he gave to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. Now the One who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God. 2 Cor 9:6-12 The Lord is saying something. This morning I awoke at 4 burdened for souls. Somewhere in the world lives are being...

At the present time your surplus is available for their need, so their abundance may be also become available for our need, so there may be equality. As it has been written: The person who gathered much did not have too much, And the person who gathered little did not have too little. 2 Cor 8:14,15 The scripture alluded to by Paul comes from Ex 16:18. It is talking about when the manna fell and the Israelites went out to gather their first harvest. The Israelites were told by Moses to each gather two quarts. There was to be a fair rationing amongst the people. Paul is using this reference to highlight that there is not a need for the Corinthians to hoard but instead share what they did not need themselves. Our problem today is we have a constant stream of images in the media from companies  wanting us to buy. The advertising tells us we 'need' their product. This constant being sold to, tells us we have needs we do not have and robs us of our surplus and giving potential. We ac...

Now as you excel in everything- faith, speech knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us- excel also in this grace (giving). I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: though He was rich, for your sake became poor, so that by Hus poverty you might become rich. Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who not only a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it. But now finish the task as well, that just as there was eagerness to desire it, so there may also be a completion from what you have. For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. It is not that there may be relief for others and hardship for you,mbut it is a question of equality- at the present time your surplus is available for their need, so their abundance may also become a...

When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry saying, "arise, take your wife and two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed, in the punishment of the city." And while he lingered, the angels took hold of his hand, his wife's hand and the hands of his two daughters, The Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.  Then they said to him, "escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plains. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed. Then Lot said to them, " please no, my Lords!" "Indeed now, your servant has found favour in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown to me by saving my life, but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one, please let me escape there( is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live." Genesis 19:13-20 Master Co...

Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord (because of verse 10), we seek to  persuade people. We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your conscience as well. We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance rather than in the heart. For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we have a sound mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: if One died for all, then all died. And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised. 2 Cor 5:11-15 Paul was bringing the Corinthians to a knowledge that we judge by what is going on inside a heart and we cannot know that without love and then our judgement is not harsh or critical but loving. Christ loved us all so much He died for us, so that we cou...

And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised. From now on, then, we do not know anyone in a purely human way. Even if we have known Christ in a purely human way, yet now we no longer know Him in this way. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. 2 Cor 5:15-17 We do not know Christ in a purely human way, yet we know Him by faith. However we know each other and often this is only an exchange of natural knowledge obtained through interaction or perception. We are encouraged to know each other deeper, as spiritual beings. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. We are approaching midnight on New Year's Eve 2014. Many will endeavour to fix the old ways and fail without trying to create new ways. As Christians we cannot fix our flesh as it is dead. We must walk in newness of life in the Spirit, as a new creation...

Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that is, in Christ, Gid was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ's behalf, "Be reconciled to God." He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of a God in Him.  Working together with Him, we also appeal to you, "Don't receive God's grace in vain. For He says: ' I heard you in an acceptable time, and I helped you in the day of salvation.'  Look, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation. 2 Cor 5:18-6:2 There is no better time to come to know Christ. He has made the way open for you and paid the price. There is nothing to add merely accept and walk in the New Life, in al...

But as God's ministers, we commend ourselves in everything: By great endurance, by afflictions, By hardship, by difficulties, By beatings, by imprisonments, By riots, by labours, By sleepless nights, by times of hunger, By purity, by knowledge, By patience, by kindness, By the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, By the message of truth,  By the power of God; Through weapons of righteousness on the right hand and the left, Through glory and dishonour, Through slander and a good report; As deceives yet true; As unknown yet recognised; As dying and look - we live; As being disciplined yet not killed; As grieving yet always rejoicing; As poor yet enriching many; As having nothing yet possessing everything. 2 Cor 6:4-10 The book of Acts attests to verses 4 and 5. Paul suffered for the gospel, as the Lord had told him he would. Verses 6,7 deal with character traits perceived only with the eye of faith. ( Kendell H.  Easley) Verses 8-10 ...

Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God's sanctuary have with idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God. 2 Cor 6:14-16 If I value the fact that I am the sanctuary of God I will care for the temple and not link it to worshipers of other gods. Yet, this does not mean that I isolate myself from the world. I am to be 'in' the world but not 'of' the world. I am the light fit eh world and if I take the light away, what hope is there for the lost? Being yoked to an unbeliever is like marrying an unbeliever, going into a business partnership with an unbeliever etc, sharing what belongs to God with an unbeliever. I will also not yoke with someone who claims to be a Christian but lives like an unbeliever. Pers...

We have spoken openly to you, Corinthians; our hearts have been open wide. You are not limited by us, but you are limited by your own affections. I speak as to my children. As a proper response, you should also be open to us. 2 Cor 6:11-13 Plain speaking is good, we do not need to guess what the teacher is saying. His black is black and white is white. Being open to receive from a teacher enables us to receive what God has for us. Have you ever gone to church with your mind on your own agenda and not really listening? You would have been better to sort your stuff in your mind or come ready to give it to God. But we do it, don't we?  Because I am always having time with the Lord I tend to upload but there are times that I find myself troubled by something and am deaf to the preached word. What a lost opportunity! The preached word is a great opportunity to receive from God.  I remember sitting listening to a poor preacher and determining that I would receive so...

For we are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said, 'I will dwell among them and walk among them, I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the lord; Do not touch any unlearn thing, and I will welcome you, And you will be sons and daughters to Me,  Says the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor 6:16-18 Paul pulls these verses from across the Old Testament: Leviticus 26:12; Isaiah 52:11; 2Samuel 7:14. They are spoken to different groups and individuals throughout the Old Testament but the message remains the same: come out, be set apart and I will dwell with you. Paul uses these verses to highlight the fact that we now are God's temple. Just as in the Old Testament the temple was holy and dedicated to the Lord, so are we. You could take the Holy of Holies out of the Old Testament and say: "this is what you now are." To fully appreciate what this means we must read the institution of the first t...

Therefore, dear friends, since we have such promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, completing our sanctification in the fear of God. 2 Cor 7:1 We tend to think of our need to cleanse ourselves of fleshly appetites but I don't know I have ever noticed a need to cleanse our spirit before, but, it is only right. If we really think, we would realise that each time we deify ourselves, or others, we have brought another god into our temple and therefore become spiritually unclean. It is important we are sensitive to the Holy a spirit and allow Him to show us the state of our spirits because that is where the life is, in our spirits. Jesus taught that brackish and pure water cannot flow out form the same place, one will dominate. Yet, we live as if both can cohabit, and they can't, thus the tension. Today I went to see the third Hobbit movie. In it one of the key characters, Thorrin, was corrupted by his lust for gold. He had t...

For Godly grief produces a repentance not to be regretted and leading to salvation, but worldly grief produces death. For consider how much diligence this very thing- this grieving as God wills- has produced in you: what a desire to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what deep longing, what zeal, what justice! In every way you showed yourselves pure in this matter. 2 Cor 7:10,11 Paul was referring to the Corinthians response to his letter of rebuke he wrote after 1 Corinthians. This letter appears to be lost, yet some think the last part of this letter is that letter as Paul again changes his tone to that of rebuke in chapter 10. I found 1 Corinthians severe enough, yet the Corinthians had struggled because a false apostle came along and was convincing the Corinthians to reject Paul's apostleship. How hard it would be to run a church from a distance? Unless there was good solid leadership in the church it would constantly have problems. I am grateful for go...

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God granted to the churches of Macedonia: During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity. I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability, they begged us insistently for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God's will. so we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so should he also complete this grace to you. Now as you excel in everything-faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us-excel also in this grace. 2 Cor 8:1-7   Did you ever consider that giving was a grace? I am sure not many of us did. We tend to think of the tithe as a requirement yet it is more. The tithe, and not that which is being dealt with here, when given in faith is a powerful seed that can yield much fr...