The day with dianne Louise

Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us — to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20‭-‬21 HCSB Last night I went to church sore and shattered from a torrid week. The natural inclination is to look for what others can do for me, but God is better. As I worshipped I sensed my insides were like shattered glass but my God was cleansing the wound and healing me. The word was good and it's healing powers flowed into my soul. Had I stopped at people, I would have gone home worse as none came near me at the stand I serviced. No offer of water, tea or any such things they ate before me. We can be so intent on ourselves and miss body ministry. So, I looked for where I might minister and went to work. Today I go to minister to a cancer sufferer. Lord willing I can share Christ with this man. I am praying for a manifestation of God in this world. The...

The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 HCSB I think we can sum up one major difference between God and ourselves- patience. We move too quickly; move on too quickly; wipe people off too quickly and forgive way too slowly. God's timing is perfect and the source of most of our frustration. We cannot dictate to God, according to our emotions. He must be GOD! When I am frustrated with God's timing I am showing my carnal nature and fail. God alone knows what He wants to achieve in me and how He would like to present me to others. Today I stayed home from morning church planning to go to evening church. I have had a big week, culminating in cooking for 133 people last night at astronomy. Whilst there I got talking to people and saw needs. A man has lost his daughter, almost, to motor neurons disease. I asked her name and said I would pray. I woke at 3am and...

“Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. John 14:1 HCSB In John 13 and 14 Jesus is talking to His disciples about His going away. They do not understand and are troubled. They remind me of little children who cannot grasp that grandpa must go into hospital when he looks fine to them. I remember this myself when I was around 6. My most favourite person in all the world was packing a suitcase and telling me he had to go a long way away because He had a problem with His heart. Like the disciples I pleaded with Cecil (he was a step-grandfather) to not go because I knew he would not return. Unfortunately he did not. However, the disciples have their Lord before them. One who they had planned ruling with. Here He is telling them He must go away. Not only go away but be killed on a cross. I so know their grief and lack of understanding. Yet the disciples had to face this time as it was a part of the plan. If Jesus did not die and rise again He would have...

But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, John 1:12 HCSB Today, I am grateful I belong to Him. Yesterday was a bad day but today I am still His. Nothing can take that away. Nothing I do can change that. Last night I began to back my car from the garage and remembered I forgot something. Failing to realise the car was already in reverse I started to get out of the car. A driverless automatic is a beast. It kept going and took out the side of the garage wall and the roller door fell on the car. You might say it was and is a mess. I am grateful I am insured. I have damaged not only my car but someone else's property. The landlord may not be impressed with me but God knows it was not malicious, just foolish. I will pay the cost. However, I am still a child of God. He will not reject me. I may not happy with me but He is bigger than my mistakes and my sins and repentance deals with sin. His forgiveness is real...

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 HCSB Temptation again! The Lord's Prayer requests God to: 'lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.' James tells us where temptation comes from: No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. James 1:13‭-‬15 HCSB So, when we enter temptation we can, instead of yielding, stand firm and look for an opportunity to yield that part of us that is struggling, to the Holy Spirit. The whole experience is much like going...

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 HCSB Temptation is more than lusting after what is not ours. It can be a temptation to break out against all sound logic and act foolishly. Yesterday I put in a 12 hour work day. I had an auditor on site and a new dog misbehaving badly. You might say all my buttons were being pushed. The audit was hard and I have been scored badly because of what seems very unfair. I had not done anything illegal or unconsciable but failed to do another document instead of an email to a client. I can become angry at what appears miniscule nit picking or ask God, 'where are You in this?' I know He is wanting to prepare me for growth and if I learn the lesson well, I will protect myself down the track. So I choose to humble myself ...

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way. Psalms 139:23‭-‬24 HCSB David was a man before his time. David lived with knowledge and hunger for God's presence. As Christians we have this Holy Spirit who indwells us. This Holy Spirit does indeed examine our thoughts and convicts us when we are wrong. We are deceived, at times willingly, by the flattery of others and even seduced by Satan's lies. He is either condemning or leading us into deception through seduction. Yesterday I read a letter from a father of a young girl who had been constantly hunted by paedophiles. These paedophiles used Snapchat as it did not leave a footprint on the users phone. The paedophiles are masters in seduction. Young girls fall for their lies and are drawn away into sexual exploitation. Without the seduction they would be safer. Seduction is a tool of the enemy to draw us into destruction. We m...

For the entire law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another. I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:14‭-‬18 HCSB Jesus was asked which was the greatest law. He said: “This is the most important,” Jesus answered: Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. “The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.” Mark 12:29‭-‬31 HCSB If I love my neighbour as myself I will not envy, covet, slander, be angry enough to kill, d...

But as it is written: What eye did not see and ear did not hear, and what never entered the human mind — God prepared this for those who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9 HCSB The people in Israel never expected God to want a personal relationship with them, again. Adam had had this but they had decided, at the time of Moses, they did not. When Jesus arrived, even the disciples thought He was a returned King. God's wisdom was, as C.S. Lewis called it, 'deep magic.' Satan, who is not, and never has been relational, did not suspect it. When I read the Old Testament I see Christ woven through it. Yet before Christ it was a difficult story book. The fact that the God of all the universe wants a relationship with us is mind blowing. Why would He do that? We are a messed up bag of creatures. Last night I had astronomy again. We were having a guided tour of the night sky. Looking up always causes me to wonder at my God. He is so magnificent. When I see His handiwork I am amazed....

This is what the Lord says: The man who trusts in mankind, who makes human flesh his strength and turns his heart from the Lord is cursed. He will be like a juniper in the Arabah; he cannot see when good comes but dwells in the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land where no one lives. The man who trusts in the Lord , whose confidence indeed is the Lord , is blessed. He will be like a tree planted by water: it sends its roots out toward a stream, it doesn’t fear when heat comes, and its foliage remains green. It will not worry in a year of drought or cease producing fruit. Jeremiah 17:5‭-‬8 HCSB The scripture for today was from verse 7. However, as is my want, I read from the beginning. It is good to know the difference. What is life without God like, compared to life with Him? I shudder to think how life would have been for me without Him, without genuinely knowing Him. We do tend to measure our life by who we have in our life. You will see posts from women who are glo...

Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way,” says the Lord of Hosts. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. Malachi 3:10 HCSB This is our Father calling us to a challenge: 'come on son/daughter, throw me the ball and see if I, daddy will not throw it back!' If we have parented we remember at what age this dialogue took place, when our children were very little and only just beginning in ball games. Yesterday I went to an animal shelter some 5 hours drive away, to look at a new dog. I chose one called Oscar. Oscar has feet made of springs and love to run, jump, catch and play ball. Oscar did not need encouragement. I threw a toy down the hall and the chase was on. Little children love to play catchies. They don't need a lot of encouragement. The heart of a Child of God loves to give and here our Father says, encouragingly: 'come on, try Me. I will ...

If I speak human or angelic languages but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1 HCSB In Chapter 12 Paul is speaking about gifts of the Spirit. He ends it with: 'But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.' That better way was laid out in the next chapter. All the gifts of the Spirit manifest through me but are useless if done with a malignant attitude and a lack of love. Religious zeal like that seen by those who despise Christians today is just religion. Religious zeal without love kills those who oppose it or are even different to it. I love singing in the Spirit and praying in tongues, but they benefit me or my hearers little, if not accompanied by love. Love covers, lifts up, forgives, endures all things, believes all things. We all know what a sounding gong is like. We may tolerate it for a while, especially if it calls us to dinner but if it is just sounding off for no reason it irritates and is...

How joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered! Romans 4:7 HCSB To fully appreciate forgiveness we must know our sin. To not know our sin is disastrous yet when an awareness of sin comes, so does an opportunity to know repentance and ultimately forgiveness. I grew up knowing about Christ and lived a pretty clean life until I became aware of my sin, then my God was standing there with the gift of repentance and His merciful forgiveness. To know that forgiveness has kept me faithful. Now I know Him as Saviour and have made Him Lord. He must be Lord of all. I want an eternity with Him. He is everything! Without Him life is meaningless. The source of joy is forgiveness and knowing eternity with Him is mine. Today I am still processing grief over losing a beloved pet. I thought I was losing my mother but she lives. I have lost a lot but I have not lost my Jesus. He will not leave me. Amen!

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24 HCSB Today I would like to uncover a most insidious desire- comfort. We like our worlds to be comfortable, as in giving and yielding comfort to us. Last night I received word that my dog Emma had been hit by a car and died. I am in Sydney attending to my mother whose life was again threatened. I had come prepared to lose my 85 year old mum. She is dear to me and has been most faithful to me. My dog and my mother have been there constantly for me. However both were getting very old and near the end of their days. Before I left home I sensed I might not see my dog again but knew I must go. Em had been sick and I thought she was near her end. She was deaf and going blind. She had lived 16 years. When you have had a dog so long it is hard to say goodbye. Em didn't die from sickness, she was hit by a car. Today I leave Sydney to return home knowing life has changed. There...

The one who lives with integrity is righteous; his children who come after him will be happy. Proverbs 20:7 HCSB What is integrity? The dictionary lists all sorts of noble attributes. However, when I look at the list I know I cannot, in myself, be all those things, I need help. Paul the apostle came to the same conclusion in Romans. He said: So I discover this principle: When I want to do what is good, evil is with me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this dying body? Romans 7:21‭, ‬24 HCSB Therefore, the conclusion for me is: if I want integrity I must walk in the Spirit: because the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2 HCSB Without the Holy Spirit I am carnal and nasty. I need redemption. I know this and must not deceive myself into thinking I am good, without Christ. Amen!

Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure with turmoil. Proverbs 15:16 HCSB The house of the righteous has great wealth, but trouble accompanies the income of the wicked. Proverbs 15:6 HCSB Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred. Proverbs 15:17 HCSB These verses seem at odds with one another. Yet wealth with God at the centre and given by Him is fine. The key is having God at the centre. In every movie about English life the rich are betrayed as nasty, hateful people. Who would want to be them. Now I am sure they are not all alike but I know I would rather be in the Lord's courts than anywhere else. Amen!

The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected. Proverbs 18:10 HCSB Yesterday I had plans to have a woman over for dinner, whom I discovered is a relative. Leading up to this dinner I received news that my mother had been taken to hospital again. As I had only just been talking to mum that morning and just after receiving a surprise gift from her, it hit hard. My mother has been my best supporter and most faithful friend, apart from the Lord, that is. I had just cleaned the floors and showered and my dog Emma decided to vomit on my mat. When both mum and my dog get sick I know the enemy does not want me at Peace to receive a lost woman into my home. I praised my God for this woman and prayed she would be open to Christ. My God is my strong tower. He is my reward. The dinner went well and we poured over family history books together. I could see a bitter spirit in my relative. She had been robbed of an inheritance of land she loved. I shared brie...

Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won’t be tempted. Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each person should examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else. For each person will have to carry his own load. Galatians 6:1‭-‬5 HCSB Restoring others is a part of our mandate to set captives free. Restoring others can take time, perseverance, prayer and fasting. In other words effort. I see far too many bold posts on Facebook about cutting difficult people out of our lives. Where is the grace and mercy in this? Where is the fight for their freedom? We tend to talk about those caught and be cross with their behaviour. Yet this does nothing to set them free....

All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord evaluates the motives. Proverbs 21:2 HCSB Motives are everything. Why do I love you? Is it to gain from you? Why do I walk with you? What do I want from you? Is it honour and integrity that drives my motives or something sinister? Relationships break down constantly. What seemed so good is fraught with greed or usury. When you feel used by others do you give your heart? The Lord has to handle this from all His subjects. He is motivated by love: He gives from love; He gave His best from love. On the weekend He stirred me to give money to someone who I knew would need it for food. Yesterday I saw them on Facebook wasting what was given. I was cross but knew I had been prompted by God. He then showed me His heart and how He gives His best to see it wasted on self. What I saw made me wiser. What I saw made me think and measure my own heart. What was my motive? To obey my God. That, to me, is the most important thing. He knows mor...

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 HCSB In our day there are many false prophets leading to false Christs, especially in the realm of loving and tolerating homosexuality. Whilst we must love all men no matter what, we do not have to tolerate their willful display of sin in the church. We are now seeing the agenda of the homosexuality movement and it is not good. All sexual sin is not good: paedophilia, adultery, pornography, fornication, sodomy, bestiality, transgenderism and masturbation all belong to the house of sexual sin. When the church tolerates one the rest follow demanding acceptance. We are fooled by the demand to be loved. Paul dealt well with sexual sin in 1 Corinthians. He said, throw them out until they repent. There was no call for tolerance of sexual sin. We must love the lost from Christ but not partake of their sin. Inside the chur...

assuming you heard about Him and were taught by Him, because the truth is in Jesus. You took off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires; you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; you put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth. Since you put away lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another. Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, and don’t give the Devil an opportunity. Ephesians 4:21‭-‬27 HCSB Each day I get up and choose what to wear. As it is frosty and cold here at present, I put on layers to keep warm. I have a choice. Just the same I put on a nature as I arise: will I put on the new, born again, nature or my old flesh? If I do not make a conscious choice, then, I will default to the flesh. If I fail to make a conscious choice about how to dress I will default to pyjamas. Whilst they are warm and...

Happy are those who keep His decrees and seek Him with all their heart. Psalms 119:2 HCSB This Psalm was written under law, in the Old Testament. Genuine God seekers kept the law and were frequenters of the temple. They constantly made offerings for sin. As to the amount of genuine 'God Seekers', we would have to hazard a guess. Yet, even the prophets estimated wrongly. Elisha complained to God that he alone served Him but God said He still had 700 who had not bowed the knee to Baal. Mind you, out of the millions on earth at that time, that was not good numbers. Recently in our country there was a census. Across the country church decline was marked. However, in our city of Tamworth this was not so marked. If we believe all social media put out godlessness is rampant, yet Isaiah said: When the enemy comes in, like a flood God will raise up a standard against him. Is 59:19 If you read the full chapter we see that God Himself was offended when He saw no justice: Truth i...

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. “For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing. Matthew 6:12‭, ‬14‭-‬15 HCSB I awake this morning aware of a need for corporate forgiveness. We can so be caught up in: me, myself and I, that we fail to see our part in the big picture. On Friday night I had a conversation with someone and I came away mortified with my association with all that they were and had become. Yet, I am a part of their sin. How can I disassociate myself from my brother's sin and condemn them whilst lifting myself up? I can't! We all need our heavenly Father's forgiveness. In all my life, the role model I have been, the parent I was and am, the neighbour I was and am, all of it played a part in the lives of others. I cannot expunge myself by simply asking forgiveness from God and blithely moving on, forge...

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 Corinthians 5:14‭-‬15 HCSB Paul is giving a defence. He has been accused of being out of his mind in his zeal for Gentile believers. I am sure many missionaries are accused likewise by those who are freshly and only look at the outward appearance. These people would have dismissed John the Baptist as well. Jesus did indeed die for all mankind. All are covered by His perfect sacrifice, all have been offered forgiveness. That not all accept this wonderful gift does not make it any less powerful. We live in a godless age, where people are lovers of self rather than lovers of God. Christ's love took Him to the cross. He purchased our freedom and forgiveness. Therefore I should no longer live as a slave to my flesh but rather a slave to His grac...

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20 HCSB What do you think this verse refers to? Meeting together? Agreeing together? Having fellowship? Whilst they are all good, Jesus was referring to previous comments about forgiving sin and restoring a brother who had sinned. See: “If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him in private. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he won’t listen, take one or two more with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established. If he pays no attention to them, tell the church. But if he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like an unbeliever and a tax collector to you. I assure you: Whatever you bind on earth is already bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in heaven. Again, I assure you: If two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done f...

I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content — whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:12‭-‬13 HCSB Being content and not frustrated by our expectations is important. When God said His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are greater than our thoughts, there was a reason: they are! Frustration comes from unmet expectations. We ate so limited in our thinking and so narrow in our processing. God may very well arrive at a certain point but He takes the scenic route, whereas you, will take the highway. There are beauties God wants to reveal to us. If we always insist on going on the motorway He will have to hijack us and take us captive into the forest. Relax, let God reveal Himself. He is beautiful, fun and His ways are very good. Paul knew this. In the scripture above he is saying: "I...

I, Yahweh, examine the mind, I test the heart to give to each according to his way, according to what his actions deserve. Jeremiah 17:10 HCSB We need to read the preceding verse: The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable — who can understand it? Have you ever heard: 'let your heart be your guide'? Or 'God sees my heart! The trouble is: God sees our heart, we don't see it's deception. Because we feel good about a decision does not make it right. What does God's word say? Does our desire stack up with scripture? Or does it defy it? Our heart is a trap, not a guide. Yesterday I read an article about why people buy the house they do, the main reason was emotion. At auction that same emotion will cause a person to keep bidding for a house that is wrong for them. Then, they must pay for the house for a very long time. The same can be said about relationships. ' He was funny!' Is not a substantial reason to marry. 'She was s...

For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. 2 Timothy 1:7 HCSB As I read chapter 1 of 2Timothy i am made aware that Paul is writing to strengthen and encourage Timothy, bringing to mind his beginning and heritage amd Paul's love for him and belief in him. A pioneer or overseerer will face discouragement often. I know I am constantly faced with it and the loneliness of it. I must find God in that place because He alone is my strength. No-one else can fulfill me like He can. No-one has all the answers, like He does. Times of discouragement come and go, much like the waves, yet the happenings of life are not my anchor but He is. He is unchangeable, and so and grateful He is. My friends cannot save me from life, they help, a great deal. Only He, my God, has power to touch me where I need it, deep within my soul. My God has given me: love, power and a sound mind. These are gifts indeed. There are many that give up life because ...

But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them shout for joy forever. May You shelter them, and may those who love Your name boast about You. For You, Lord , bless the righteous one; You surround him with favor like a shield. Psalms 5:11‭-‬12 HCSB When a storm comes we run for cover. If we find good, warm cover we are delighted and are grateful. We can then stand and watch the storm in safely and actually enjoy the storm. Might I suggest we have such a shelter in our God. We can run to Him and be sheltered under the shadow of His wings, safe and warm in His feathers. Now, we can turn and watch the storm in safety and without fear. Amen! I have always enjoyed storms. Mind you I have not been caught in a tornado or a nasty cyclone. However, I have sister who lives in cyclone country, up, North Western Australia in a place called Karratha. She has weathered a cyclone and lived to tell the tale. If you are prepared and do as you have been instructed, if your house is built of t...

Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For everything that belongs to the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle — is not from the Father, but is from the world. 1 John 2:15‭-‬16 HCSB There are two camp: the Kingdom of Heaven; the Kingdom of this World. Anyone who is born of God belongs to the Kingdom of God, although they live in this world they must set their sights on the Kingdom of God. The biggest trap of this world is money and possessions. Having them make a person feel good and special. I have been in beautiful homes and under different circumstances. I have been a renter and an owner. In Australia there is a stigma associated with both. An owner is considered better than a renter. Yet, if God provides the best of both, is not His opinion the one that matters? Living by the sea is considered better than living inland. I have live in both pl...

Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. Therefore, we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Hebrews 13:5‭-‬6 HCSB What does the love of money look like? What does the love of anything look like? It possess your thinking, you heart and your eye. This principle defies business logic. If you ask most businessmen why they are in business- the answer generally is to make money, a lot of it. Yet why is a Christian involved in any endeavour? To serve the Lord, making money is a by-product. At Connect group we have watched a series on the Blessed Life by Robert Morris. An excellent series and one centered around giving. Basically, Robert says: " God owns everything and allows him to use it." If God owns the business, the money, my very breath, why do I become anxious for my life? My business? If my focus is God, I must allo...